Ruth M. Atwater

Ruth M. Atwater age 89 of Crosby formerly of Emily died on August 23, 2010 at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby. She was born on June 26, 1921 in Pipestone County, MN to Oliver "Ray" and Anna (McCaffrey) Hite. She married Randle "Kelly" Leroy Atwater on Jan. 18, 1941 in Crosby. She graduated from the Crosby-Ironton High School, class of 1938 and Normal Training in 1939, under the Crosby-Ironton school system. Ruth taught in Fairfield Township School, and was a teacher and teacher's aide at the Emily School. She was a former member of St. Emily's Catholic Church, Friendly Neighbor Garden Club, Emily, American Legion Auxiliary and the Emily 50+ Club. Survivors include 5 sons, Jim (Sheila) Atwater of Ferndale, WA, Don Atwater of Emily, Charlie (Andrea) Atwater of Emily, Ed Atwater of Emily, and Paul Atwater of Sabin. MN; 3 daughters, Judy Zettervall of Brainerd, Polly (Randy) Balken of Erhard, MN and Elaine Grunewald of Rothsay, MN; 1 sister, Betty Christensen of Duluth; 2 sisters-in-law, Bernice Hite and Jean Atwater; 18 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death are her parents, husband Kelly in 1972, 1 infant son Richard; 1 granddaughter, Jeanette Atwater; 1 brother, Robert Hite; 2 sisters, Margaret Strand and Mary Schmidt. Funeral services will be 10 am Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at St. Emily's Catholic Church in Emily. Burial will be at the Pine Ridge Cemetery in Emily. Friends may call on Monday at the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby from 5 to 8 pm with a prayer service at 7:30 PM and 1 hour prior to the services at the church on Tuesday.