General Information
Full Name: Nancy Alice Ruter
Date of Birth: October 15, 1950
Date of Death: October 9, 2013
Nancy’s life story
Nancy Alice Ruter
On Sunday, October 15, 1950 in Wilmar, MN, Nancy was born to parents Harold and Alice (Emas) Ruter. A curly white haired little girl, she was the second of six children. Nancy’s childhood years were spent in Renville, MN. As a family, everyone helped out with the family restaurant business, but Nancy always found ways to get out of work; she needed to wash her hair, work on school reports, just to name a few reasons.
Graduating from Renville High School, Nancy moved to St. Paul and attended Rasmussen Business College for a legal secretary degree. Business minded; she worked for Dart Transit for over 24 years and several years for Roadway Express as a computer billing specialist. Nancy also worked side by side, with her dad, managing the family apartment rental business for decades. She was the accountant and later the manager upon her dad’s passing.
Life became complete with the birth of her son, Eric James. Family was most important to her. Nancy was very supportive in Eric’s involvement in Boy Scouts, playing of sports; such as basketball, hockey, football, baseball and soccer. She loved being a grandma and great-grandma. As a mother, Nancy taught Eric that life could be given to you on a silver spoon, but it is life’s experiences that will teach you the lessons.
In the earlier years, Nancy was a good athlete, skating, playing softball and bowling. A love for the sun, Nancy enjoyed her annual trip to Jamaica and spending time at her cabin at Big Kandiyohi Lake, for over 20 years. She enjoyed tending to the flowers in the garden and going out to eat with family and friends. Nancy loved to put on her cowboy hat and boots and shuffling her feet across the dance floor, listening to country music. Nancy was very proud of her Finnish heritage and a woman with a lot of “SISU!”
An individual who was only 5 feet 2 inches, Nancy was strong willed, hard working and independent, yet very quiet in nature. She was a great conversationalist. A sassy personality, Nancy was kind, generous and would help anyone in need. A devoted Christian, Nancy was a loving mom, grandma and great-grandma and a fabulous sister, aunt, godmother and a great friend to many.
The early evening hours of Wednesday, October 9, 2013, Nancy passed away unexpectedly at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. She died 5 days before her 63rd birthday.
Deeply missed and remembered always by those who loved Nancy, son, Eric James Ruter of Burnsville; granddaughter, Erika Wall; great-granddaughter, Harmony Schliep; siblings, Susan (Rick Lorence) Adams of Prior Lake, James (Bach Tong) Ruter of Anoka, Roger Ruter of Prior Lake, Laura (Brent) LaFavor of Burnsville; many nieces and nephews, John Adams, Shawn Ruter, Sam Ruter, Lauren, Cade, Hunter and Logan LaFavor; other loving relatives and devoted friends.
Nancy is preceded in death by parents, Harold and Alice and brother, Bruce.
Pall bearers for Nancy will be Shawn Ruter, John Adams, Cliff Adams, Ted Bollman, Rick Lorence, Keith Neal and Brent LaFavor.
The visitation will be on Monday, October 14, from 4-7 pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and one hour prior to the service at the church. The Celebration of Life Service will be on Tuesday, October 15 at 11 am, at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church 3611 North Berens Road, NW, Prior Lake. Reverend Mark Schmid will preside. Nancy will be laid to rest next to her parents and brother at Spring Lake Cemetery in Prior Lake, MN.
The Ruter family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Prior Lake Chapel. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
Visitation
When: Monday, October 14, 2013, 4-7 pm
Location: Ballard Sunder Funeral Home
Address:4565 Pleasant Street SE
Prior Lake, MN
Service Information
When: Tuesday, October 15, 2013, 11:00 am
Location: Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church
Address: 3611 N. Berens Rd NW
Prior Lake, MN
Interment
Spring Lake Cemetery
Prior Lake, MN
