Ruth Madson, age 94 of Westbrook, passed away Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at Westbrook Good Samaritan. A Celebration of Life will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 31 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Westbrook. Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Westbrook Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Burial is in the Westbrook Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Sanford Medical Center in Westbrook or Immanuel Baptist Church in Westbrook. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Ruth Bernice (Erickson) Madson was born July 30, 1921 to Peter and Florence (Brandow) Erickson on a farm near Dovray, Minnesota, in Murray County. Ruth accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior at age 12, was baptized, and joined the Immanuel Baptist Church in Westbrook. She was actively involved in many ministries of the church. Ruth attended Old Dovray District 97 Country School and graduated from Westbrook High School in 1941. She worked with Dr. Valentine at Tracy to receive her nursing certificate through the Lawrence Nursing School of Michigan. Her nursing career was in Tracy, Pipestone, Windom, and Westbrook. Ruth loved nursing and caring for patients. She was an active member of the Clara Barton Club. On November 15, 1945 Ruth married Stanley Madson at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Westbrook. To this union, five children were born: John (Linda) Madson of Westbrook, Sharon (Bruce) Higgs of Greer, SC, JoAnn (Doug) Nelson of Lincoln, NE, Joyce (Rick) Parsons of Greenville, SC, and David (Shelley) Madson of Greer, SC. They have ten grandchildren: Chad Paplow, Curtis (Shannon) Madson, Timothy (Janelle) Higgs, Aaron Higgs, Amanda Parsons (David) Highhouse, Mackenzie, Palmer, Tanner, Brady, and Lindsey Madson; seven great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Ruth enjoyed sharing the produce of her garden with friends. She was known for her delicious crunchy dill pickles (her secret ingredient for those was the well water). She also enjoyed baking for different events, family, and friends to be a blessing to them.
Ruth is survived by her husband Stanley, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Raymond Erickson, and sisters Hazel Busk and Florence Larson.
Deepest sympathy to the family. She was a dear sweet Christian women, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. The Lord has received an angel into heaven,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Ruth was a wonderful nurse, and she enriched the lives of all she knew.
Love to all of you, from Eunice Christensen,
My sympathies to Stan, Sharon, JoAnn, Joyce & David. So many memories of growing up days at and visits back to Immanuel Baptist. It was always a blessing to see Ruth’s smiling face and know her joy and trust was in Jesus Christ, her personal savior.
My deepest condolences to the Madsen family. Ruth was a kind sweet woman and always had a smile. She was the nurse attending my birth. I remember her always having a kind encouraging word for me.
May God ease your grief with special memories and the comfort that comes from being together at the time.
She was a special lady and my mother’s friend. Both were nurses. Ruth would talk with me about my mother sometimes when I stayed with Sharon. Good times at the Madson house. She will be missed!
My sincere condolences to the family of Ruth Madson. Prayers and thoughts go out for all . Ruth was a lovely woman.