Ruth Duesterhoeft

Obituary

Ruth Marion Duesterhoeft was born on April 11, 1926, in Crawford County, Grayling, Michigan.  She was the daughter of Clifford and Ruth (Dyer) Chappel. Ruth was baptized on October 6, 1935, by Reverend Flory at Michelson Memorial Church in Grayling , and was later confirmed in her faith on February 1, 1947, by Reverend R.J. Palmer at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.  She received her education in Grayling and was a graduate of the Central High School Class of 1944 in Bay City, Michigan.

On August 10, 1946, Ruth was united in marriage to John Duesterhoeft at the Methodist Church in Bay City, Michigan. This marriage was blessed with four children, Linda, Terry, Bradley, and Randy. Ruth and John resided in Fargo, North Dakota . They also made their home in Bay City, Michigan, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a time, and in 1948, the Duesterhoefts moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota. Ruth and John shared 43 years of marriage together until John passed away on November 16, 1989.

In addition to being a loving homemaker and mother, Ruth worked at Kresge’s in Michigan, Dow Chemical Company in Sunnyvale, California, during World War II, where she helped to make bazookas for the war effort.  She was also in charge of the mail room at Joshua Hendy Iron Works in Mountain View, California. John and Ruth moved off the farm and into Hutchinson in 1987.  Ruth was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lynn Township, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher.   Ruth also volunteered as a 4-H Leader.

Ruth enjoyed reading, and watching her children and grandchildren at sporting events.  She especially enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren and friends.

Ruth passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at Hutchinson Health Hospital, at the age of 90 years.

Blessed be her memory.

Ruth is survived by her:
Children; Linda Merkins and her husband, Peter of Hutchinson, MN,
                  Terry Duesterhoeft and his wife, Linda Broyles of Aptos, CA,
                  Bradley Duesterhoeft and his wife, Dori of Hutchinson, MN,
                  Randy Duesterhoeft of Hutchinson, MN;
Grandchildren, Julie Clasemann and her husband, Dan, David Merkins and his wife, Kari, Daniel Duesterhoeft and his wife, Madeline, Michelle Duesterhoeft and her husband, Shawn Lindberg, Misha Broyles, Jon Duesterhoeft and his wife, Kristin, Jenna Duesterhoeft, Jaclyn Potter and her husband, Seth, Jordan Duesterhoeft and Estefania Asensio;
Great Grandchildren, Steven Clasemann, Nicholas Clasemann and his wife, Caylee, Hailey VanOverbeke, Miah Merkins, Logan Duesterhoeft, Airana Asensio;
Great Great Grandson, Nolan Clasemann;
Sister; Sally Post and her husband, Tom of Bay City, MI;
Brothers-In-Law, Immanuel Duesterhoeft of Hutchinson, MN,
                             Martin Duesterhoeft of Collinwood, TN;
                                John W. Sears of St. Petersburg, FL;
Sister-In-Law, Hiroko Chappel of MI;
Nieces, Nephews, many other relatives and friends.

Ruth is preceded in death by her Parents, Clifford and Ruth Chappel; Husband, John Duesterhoeft; Siblings, Thelma Ramey and her husband, Del, Ralph Chappel, Clyde Chappel, James Chappel and his wife, Beverly, Margaret Chappel, Marjorie Sears, and Stanley Chappel; Brothers-In-Law and Sisters-In-Law and their spouses, Juliane Schramm and her husband, Alfred, Marie Quast and her husband, Carl, Bertha Schramm and her husband, Henry, Otto Duesterhoeft and his wife, Evalyn, Ernst Duesterhoeft and his wife, Alvina, Daniel Duesterhoeft, Ruth Hagen and her husband, Everett, Louise Reckow and her husband, Louis, Gerhard Duesterhoeft and his wife, Delores, Joyce Duesterhoeft, Fern Duesterhoeft, Clara Nell Duesterhoeft.