Ruth Winifred Nicholson was born on February 26, 1927 in St. Paul, MN, the daughter of Hjalmar and Anna (Strombeck) Wolander. She grew up in Cannon Falls and went to school there through her sophomore year. She graduated from Red Wing High School in 1945. Following high school Ruth worked in the telephone office in Red Wing, and also at Red Wing Pottery. She worked as a nurseâs aide at the Swedish Hospital also. On September 2, 1954 Ruth was united in marriage to Edwin O. Nicholson at St. Paulâs Lutheran Church in Red Wing. They lived in the Emmons area and farmed. Ruth went back to school at the Albert Lea Vo-Tech. She earned a degree in sales marketing and management in 1980. Ruth was an active distributor for the Watkins Co. She had stands at the Freeborn County Fair, Farming of Yesteryear, and the Wells Gun Show among other events. She enjoyed music, needlepoint, bowling, ice skating, volleyball, soccer, fitness, and walking. She and Ed were both devoted animal lovers.
Survivors include her son Mark Nicholson, grandchildren Sami (Vinnie) Dowdell and Travis Nicholson and his fiancée Amanda Hensche; great grand-children Grace, Rylin, and Ariella Dowdell; and other extended family.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents her husband Ed and her last dog, Koko.