Ruth Biermann

Obituary

Ruth Lila Biermann was born on January 9, 1927, at home in Hutchinson, Minnesota, the daughter of Paul and Lila (Luedtke) Horrmann. She was baptized on February 6, 1927, and confirmed in her faith on March 17, 1940, both by the Rev. William Schulz at Frieden’s Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. She grew up in Hutchinson and graduated with the Hutchinson High School Class of 1944, attending one year at Minnesota Business School after graduation.

Ruth was united in marriage to Lawrence Biermann on November 21, 1946. They made their home at Lawrence's family farm in Helen Township and were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Helen Township, where Ruth was active in Ladies Aid and taught Sunday School. Ruth and Lawrence were blessed with five children: Bruce, Kathleen, Bradford, Patrice, and Brian. The family moved to their home in Norwood in 1967 and joined St. John’s Lutheran Church in Young America.

Ruth was blessed with a strong work ethic. She learned the value of hard work growing up on the family farm, and she put that knowledge to good use as an adult, farming with Lawrence until 1958. From 1958 to 1963, Ruth and Lawrence owned and operated Lawrence's Bar in Glencoe, where they had countless good times with friends and family. Ruth also worked as a secretary in Albert Lea, Glencoe, and Norwood Young America, retiring in 1988.

Ruth brought that work ethic with her as a faithful and active member of St. John’s LWML. She held a variety of offices in the organization, and enjoyed attending many meetings, conferences, and other gatherings over the years. She spent countless hours making phone calls and organizing serving lists, buttering buns and serving hotdish. In all the ways she served, Ruth always wanted to make sure that things were just right.

Ruth’s most important job, though, was as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She cared for her family in lots of practical ways: her attention to detail made her a skilled sewer who could patch just about anything, and her grandchildren were continually amazed at her ability to fill a table with delicious food at the drop of a hat. But even more than that, Ruth blessed her family with her support and pride in their accomplishments, offering to them an example of faithful living and encouraging them to achieve their highest potential.

Ruth eagerly looked forward to deer hunting each fall, making the trip up north every year into her eighties. She was a wonderful bowler, playing on several teams and leagues throughout the years, and even teaching bowling on occasion at Glencoe High School. She was a 4H leader and supported her children as they participated in the organization. She loved dancing with Lawrence and weekend jaunts with family and friends; she enjoyed playing cards, fishing, reading, and doing crossword puzzles. She could hardly wait to get up to the family cabin on Lake Koronis each spring, where she could enjoy many of those things, and sometimes – although rarely – do nothing at all.

Ruth’s faith was a source of strength and comfort, a gift she shared generously with those around her. She was inspired by scripture’s accounts of God’s hope and promise conveyed through angels, and she believed that angels still walk among us. In her later years, she surrounded herself with a beautiful collection of Seraphim Angels as a reminder of that hope and promise. Even with the health challenges Ruth faced in recent years, her faith in God, commitment to her church, and her love of her family were central to who she was through all of her days.

Lawrence and Ruth moved to The Harbor at Peace Village in 2014, where they enjoyed the last days of their nearly 70 years of marriage, until Lawrence passed away on August 23, 2016. Ruth passed away on Saturday, June 16, 2018, at The Haven at Peace Village in Norwood Young America, at the age of 91 years, 5 months and 7 days. Blessed be her memory.

Ruth is survived by her:
Children, Bruce Biermann of Hopkins, MN,
Bradford Biermann and his wife, Sara, of Mound, MN,
Patrice Thomas of Litchfield, MN,
Brian Biermann and his wife, Kari, of Hamburg, MN;
Son-In-Law, John Kearney of Prior Lake, MN;
8 Grandchildren, Jessica McDonald and her husband, Adam, of Shakopee, MN,
Christopher Biermann and his wife, Sehaj Sethi, of Astoria, NY,
Jonathan Biermann and his wife, Laura, of Hopkins, MN,
Valerie Teppo and her husband, Aron, of Petersburg, ND,
Stephanie Schuster and her husband, Justin, of Buffalo, MN,
Quintin Biermann and his wife, Meghan, of Rapid City, SD,
Spencer Biermann of Fort Bliss, TX,
Lincoln Biermann of Roslyn SD;
Great Grandchildren, Duncan McDonald, Jaemon McDonald, Ewan McDonald, Caroline McDonald, Jasper
Biermann, Briggs Biermann;
Sister, Harriett Bergs of Glencoe, MN;
Sister-In-Law, Rose Kroeger of Lake Crystal, MN;
Nieces, Nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Ruth is preceded in death by her Husband, Lawrence Biermann; Daughter, Kathleen Kearney; Son-In-Law, Lane Thomas; Parents, Paul and Lila Horrmann; Father-In-Law & Mother-In-Law, Albert and Minnie Biermann; Brothers-In-Law & Sisters-In-Law, Maynard Bergs, Martin Kroeger, Helen Lindeman and her husband, Otto, Luverna Thiesfeld and her husband, Arnold, Marie Boltmann and her husband, Hillard, Allen Biermann and his wife, Corrine.