Ruth Frances Bruns

Ruth Frances Bruns (Byers)

April 20, 1942- May 26, 2026

Beloved wife, sister, mother, grandparent and great-grandparent. Longtime resident of Stillwater on South Twin Lake, and a lifelong dedicated employee of Northwestern Bell and subsidiaries starting as a "cord-board" operator while in high school in 1958. Ruth was adopted at the age of three by Evelyn and Birt Byers of Saint Paul, attended St. Bernards catholic school and graduated from Washington High School on Rice St. in 1960. As a child she and her sister spent time in the family Hill Hardware Store and summers at their family resort on Lake Karonis in Paynesville, MN where she learned to swim and established her work ethic as she cleaned cottages with her sister and mother while listening to polka music. She also liked to say that she was the boy her father "did not have" and she learned to clean fish, cut brush with the Jari mower and other maintenance activities around the resort. Married in 1963 she lived a life packed with activity. With her young family Ruth canoed and camped in many locations in the upper Midwest and loved to visit the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Mackinac Island where she would indulge in fudge tasting, tourist site seeing and shopping at antique stores and giftshops. She had an endless love for all animals and often recalled her childhood labrador "Troubles," and "Pete" the talking parrot. As an avid collector of glassware, China, wildlife prints and all manner of antiques in retirement she turned this passion into her focused purpose. For more than twenty years she was a dealer at American Gothic Antiques in Stillwater renting space on two floors and labeling all wares in her distinct handwriting style and uniform script.

Food and cooking were also favorite activities and in she enjoyed preparing large spreads of food on Sundays with roast beef, carrots and potatoes cooked in a Dutch-oven. Generous with her time and effort she was known for her fruit, relish and deli trays, and cabbage salad that she prepared for celebrations or "doings." From German heritage she loved to dance to polka music and would get out on the dance floor at weddings even into her 80s and glide across the floor with whoever was willing to accompany.

Ruth had high standards for herself and others, especially her family and would not accept half-measures of effort on any task. This was instilled in her children and she was proud of their accomplishments and her grandchildren and loved to share news of new educational milestones, careers advancements and other symbols of success. She was also a champion of the underdog and downtrodden and enjoyed helping those in need, especially women seeking equality, children with birth defects and wildlife.

Survived by husband Fred, sister Joan Behnke, children Daniel (Jackie), Diane Ranalla (Michael), Patricia, Marianne Abbott (Michael), Gary (Elizabeth) fourteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, many first and second cousins and extended family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, June 16th, 11:00 AM at the Church of St. Michael, 611 3rd St S, Stillwater, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass, at the church. Interment at St. Michael's Cemetery Bayport, MN.