Ruth Edna Pritchett

        Ruth Edna Pritchett was born in Park Rapids, Minnesota to David Wesley Pickett and Margaret Mary Breezee on February 28th, 1925.  Ruth, her sister Mary and her brother Ben were raised to be hard-working people during the depression.

        To help support the family Ruth began planting gardens at their home when she was 10 years old. She also helped her mother clean cabins at nearby resorts.  When she would help her mother with the laundry, she loved watching the sheets billowing like sails in the wind. Her other jobs included preparing dinner for the family when her mother was out working.

        She lived with her Aunt Ellen for a short time and attended the Wildwood School through her grade school years, then attended Park Rapids Area Schools. One of her favorite things was to play basketball, where she was an excellent player.

        Ruth met her husband, Don, through her brother Ben. They married in Reno, Nevada on November 10^th, 1942. To this union was born; Kenneth, Ronald, and Kathleen.

        While Don was in the Army, Ruth worked as a journeyman welder in Seattle, WA. She returned to Park Rapids after Don was wounded.

        After returning she held various jobs until the family decided to move to Alaska. While Don worked on the pipeline, Ruth took care of children in the neighborhood. When they earned enough money to purchase a farm, they again moved back to Park Rapids. Ruth worked at the Luxury Ice Cream parlor until she got a position working at the Red Owl Store, starting as a cashier and finishing as the produce manager. In 1972 she and her husband bought the Dairy Queen, which they owned for several years when they sold that business they purchased the Red Lantern Supper Club along with their daughter. Which they operated until Don died in 1987. Ruth then helped her children run their businesses.

        While Don was alive they spent their winters in Naples, FL and summers working with her children in Park Rapids. Ruth enjoyed the warm weather and got away from the cold Minnesota winters.

        Ruth never really retired because she was actively working until the last two years of her life. Ruth enjoyed being busy and having something to do.

        Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don; brother, Henry (Ben); and her sister, Mary.

        She leaves behind her three children: Kenneth (Theanne), Ronald (Deb) and Kathleen (Jerry); plus grand and great-grandchildren: Joel, Lance, Melissa, Levi, Erica, Jesseca, Lucas, also Laura, David, Kristina, Jason, Melissa, Tyler, and many nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to St. Joseph’s Hospice and daily caregivers; Deb, Wendy, Shelby, and Amber.