Mrs. Ruth M. (Oswood) Torkelson, 97, of Morris, Ill., passed away with her loving family by her side Tuesday morning, April 9, 2013, at Morris Hospital.
Ruth loved the Lord, was a fine Christian example to her family and friends, and had been looking forward to going home to meet her Jesus for a long time.
Ruth Merie was born Nov. 3, 1915, to Junieus and Anna (Hatteberg) Oswood. She was born and grew up in Nettle Creek Township and attended school there.
On March 14, 1942, Ruth and Ray Swanson were married in West Lisbon Lutheran Church by the Rev. Nils Klungtvedt. They had two sons, Howard and Kenneth. Ray preceded her in death on March 10, 1947.
Ruth and Forrest Torkelson were married on March 11, 1954, at West Lisbon Lutheran Church by the Rev. Klungtvedt; they had a son, Dale.
Ruth was a very loving and caring person who was a wonderful homemaker and cook. She much enjoyed time spent with her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Ray and Forrest; sisters Arlene (Clarence) Ness and Iona (James) Ness; and a brother, Allan (Mary) Oswood.
Surviving are her sons, Howard (Janet) Torkelson, Kenneth (Joanne) Torkelson and Dale Torkelson, all of Morris; five grandchildren, Terry (Kristen) Torkelson of Morris, Andy (Starlette) Torkelson of Pontiac, Ill., Tina (Ron) Rose of Bloomington, Ill., Kristine (Brad) Jacobson of Morris and Sarah (John) Koch of DePue, Wis.; 15 great-grandchildren, Ty, Kjeld, Laney and Taya Torkelson, Austin, Brady, Ryan and Aubrey Rose, Weiland, Isaac, and Violette Torkelson, Kyle, Sam, and Molly Jacobson, and Jacob Koch; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Ruth attended West Lisbon Lutheran Church of rural Lisbon all her life and was a very active member in her earlier years.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 12, at West Lisbon Church with Pastor Steven Lombardo II officiating. Interment will follow at West Lisbon Cemetery. Visitation will also be on Friday, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Terry and Andy Torkelson, grandsons-in-law Ron Rose and Brad Jacobson, and great-grandsons Ty and Kjeld Torkelson and Austin Rose. Honorary pallbearers will be granddaughters Tina Rose, Kristine Jacobson and Sarah Koch.
Preferred memorials could be given to West Lisbon Church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Morris radio ministry, or to the Grundy Community Volunteer Hospice.
Fruland Funeral Home, 121 W. Jefferson St., Morris, is in charge of arrangements. For more information, call the funeral home at (815) 942-0700 or sign the private online guestbook at www.frulandfuneralhome.com.