Ruth Ida Smed
A resident of Prior Lake, Ruth, age 83, entered eternal peace with her Lord, early Tuesday morning, May 13, 2014, at The Lodge at Natchez, in Elko, MN. The visitation will be on Friday, May 16, from 4-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and one hour prior to the mass at church. The Funeral Mass will be on Saturday, May 17 at 11 am, at the Church of St. Michael, 16311 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake, MN. Father Tom Sieg and Deacon Dick Roy will preside. Urn bearers for Ruth will be grandchildren, Rich, Bob, Pat, Becky and Logan and special friend, Bruce Sie. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, at St. Michael Cemetery.
Gracing this world on May 14, 1930, in Chanhassen, MN, Ruth was born to parents William and Odelia (Schug) Williams. Life growing up on the family farm, meant a lot of hard work and no play. Ruth’s day consisted of walking to school, uphill both ways and coming home to assist the family, with the daily chores and tending to the crops, in the field. A graduate from Chaska High School, she furthered her education and became a Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.), working in a polio ward.
At the local pub, Ruth met a young man named, Richard Smed. They started courting and on August 15, 1952, Ruth and Dick declared their love for each other. Establishing their roots in Prior Lake, they built a home and there raised a beautiful family; Denise, Renee, Mark and Rhonda. Ruth focused her life being a wife and mother. As a family, they relished visiting grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.
Life was simple for the Smed’s and full of happiness. On November 2, 1972, Ruth lost her husband, Dick, to a sudden death, at the age of 42. Life was now filled with raising a family on her own and providing a safe and loving home and putting food on the table, even if it meant working two jobs. But through it all, Ruth remained strong, faithful and determined. For approximately 50 years, Ruth worked as a maintenance engineer for the Bloomington School District and was advanced in her times. She retired at the age of 80.
All through life, Ruth focused her energy on raising, watching, nurturing and living for her children. In later years, she was proud to be a grandma and found great enjoyment being a great-grandma. It brought Ruth enormous joy sitting countless hours being with the great grandchildren. Life also included being generous to others. Ruth did volunteering for the PTA, Sharing and Caring Hands, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and for the Church of St. Michael. In her free time, she loved to cook, bake and complete crossword puzzles.
Ruth was such an amazing, loyal, caring and incredible woman. Left to honor Ruth’s life and mourn the death are her children, Denise (Roger) Kadrlik of Prior Lake, Renee Berens of Buffalo, Mark (Pam) Smed of Red Lodge, MT, Rhonda Smed of Prior Lake; grandchildren, Rich (Michelle) Kadrlik, Bob (Amanda) Kadrlik, Pat Kadrlik, Becky Kadrlik, Logan Smed; great-grandchildren, Reed Kadrlik, Madison Kadrlik, Makenna Kadrlik, Jesse Kadrlik; siblings, Dorothy Stoffel, Joan (Dale) Heitz, Donald (Donna) Williams; sister-in-law, Barb Williams; other loving relatives and devoted friends.
Preceded in death and there to welcome Ruth home in heaven, her husband Dick, son-in-law, Rick Berens; parents, William and Odelia; step-mother, Anna Williams; brother, Kenneth Williams; brother-in-law, Bernard Stoffel.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Prior Lake Chapel, proudly served the Smed family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
