Ruth Stenson

April 10, 1955-March 30, 2009

Ruth Stenson, 53, Thief River Falls, MN, died on Monday, March 30, 2009, at Innovis Hospital, Fargo, ND, with her family at her side.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. today, April 4, 2009, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, with Rev. Mark Helgeland officiating and Sheila Michaels co-officiating. Burial will be in Hitterdahl Cemetery, rural Adams, ND, near her family home farm.

Ruth Annette Berntson was born on April 10, 1955, on Easter Sunday, to Rev. Gordon and Norma (Westby) Berntson in Karlstad, MN. She was baptized by her father at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Newfolden, MN, where her father was serving his first parish. They then moved to Northwood, ND, where she attended elementary school. Following Northwood, her family moved to Rugby, ND, where Ruth graduated from high school in 1973.

Ruth attended college at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, where she graduated in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in music education. Her first teaching position was in Sykeston, ND. She next taught in Carrington, ND, for about a year and a half.

Ruth was united in marriage to Robert "Bob" Stenson on December 23, 1979, and moved to Gillette, WY. She then taught elementary music in Gillette from 1980-1981 and 1983-1985. In 1985, Ruth taught school in Bottineau, ND, until 1987. They lived in Grafton, ND, from 1987-1996. where she raised 3 children, Andrea, Robert and David. She also served as organist at Grafton Lutheran Church and taught private piano lessons. They lived one year in Fargo in 1996-97 while Bob attended college at NDSU. In Fargo that year, she gave piano lessons and was choir director at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church.

In the fall of 1997, the family moved to Thief River Falls, MN. She began teaching piano lessons in Thief River Falls. She played the pipe organ at Trinity and was the music director, choir director and accompanist at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Ruth's first bout of cancer started in 1998. In 1999, Ruth became the choir director at Franklin Middle School in Thief River Falls. In 2007, when her cancer returned, Ruth chose to "live" a full life, even with cancer, for which she was successful.

Ruth had a strong faith and lived her faith as an example to others. Ruth had been active at Redeemer Lutheran, where she was involved with the music ministry. She was part of the music and worship board, adult and youth choirs at church. She attended two Evangelical Lutheran Church Conventions and chaperoned a couple of National Youth Gatherings. She was active in Scouts and Community Concert Series Board. She held membership in the American Guild of Organists and the North Dakota Music Teachers Association, where she served in various offices. She organized and inspired many musicians to be part of many church events. She loved her time at the cabin, where she could canoe, hike, swim and bird watch. She enjoyed traveling and camping by car throughout the U.S. and Canada and exploring the Boundary Waters.

Ruth is survived by: her husband, Robert L., Thief River Falls, MN; 3 children, Andrea Stenson, Gilbert, AZ, Robert G., Thief River Falls, David, Thief River Falls; parents, Rev. Gordon and Norma Berntson, Fargo, ND; 5 brothers, Paul (Pam) Berntson, Adams, ND, Dr. Dan (Mary Catherine) Berntson, Edina, MN, Jim (Mary Beth) Berntson, Gillette, WY, Dr. Mark (Mary Lynn) Berntson, Grand Forks, ND, Rev. Steve (Mary Alice) Berntson, Jamestown, ND; parents-in-law, Robert V. and Connie Stenson, Rugby, ND, brother-in-law and sisters-in law, Robyn (Bruce) Vangsnes, Fargo, Richard (Connie Mae) Stenson, Sherburne, MN, Rhonda (Dr. John) Lageson, Park Rapids, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a sister Rebecca Jean, and her grandparents.

(Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls)