Ruth L. Tweten

Ruth L. Tweten, 95, of Rushford died peacefully at home on April 22, 2006. Ruth was born on August 3, 1910 to Gjermund and Mathilda (Martin) Halverson in Newberg Township, Fillmore County , Minnesota in a log cabin. She was baptized and confirmed in the Highland Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Peterson. Ruth grew up in South Fork Valley. Her parents died in 1917 when Ruth was about 7 years old. Her family was separated to go live with other friends or relatives. Much of Ruth's youth was spent with the Kjos and Reishus family in Rushford. On October 25, 1928 Ruth was married to Selmer Tweten by The Rev. Wang in the Rushford Lutheran Parsonage. They began farming in South Rushford on the Davis farm. They later moved to farms in Yucatan, Oak Ridge, and spent 21 years on the Onsgard-Johnson farm near Houston. In 1964, Ruth and Selmer retired to their home in South Rushford. Ruth became famous working as a cook for Ben Niggle's Caf?, and she also worked for SEMCAC in the used clothing store. She was an active 4-H leader, member of a county Homemaker's Group, and was well known for her cooking, lefse and candy making, baking, and love of roses. Ruth had a passion for Cardinal birds and was the founding mother of "The Southeast Minnesota Society for the Appreciation of Peacocks". In recent years Ruth's favorite pastimes included embroidering dish towels, knitting dish cloths and caps, and crocheting afghans. She loved to bake for baptisms, weddings, graduations, and countless family gatherings. Ruth loved to read and visit with her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. Ruth is survived by a daughter, Ruby (Herb) Highum of Rushford; 2 sons: Selmer Jr. (Sharon) of Caledonia and Robert (Carol) of Byron, Minn.; two daughters-in-law: Nancy Tweten of LaCrosse, Wis., and Kay Tweten of Houston, Minn.; 16 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters: Ovedia Anderson of Houston, Minnesota, and Hilda Storlie of Rushford; many nieces and nephews; and long time friends, Keith and Doris Ridgewell of London, England. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Selmer in 1991, two sons: Jerome and Donald and a grandson. Funeral services will Thursday, April 28, 2006 at 2 p.m. at Rushford Lutheran Church with Rev. Roger Michaelson officiating. Burial will follow at Rushford Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday, April 27th from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hoff Funeral Homes ? Rushford Chapel and one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church. Memorials are preferred to RLC Home Phone or RLC Music Fund.