Feb. 24, 1935-March 29, 2006
Ruth M. Briese, 71, of Detroit Lakes, died at her home on Wednesday, March 29, 2006, under care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.
Ruth Marilyn Baird was born to Donald and Caroline (Eastman) Baird on Feb. 24, 1935 in Estherville, Iowa. She graduated from St. James High School in 1953 and married Donald Briese on April 10, 1954 in Stillwater, Minn. Until 1955, they lived in Fairmont, Minn., where Ruth was a nurse's aide and Don worked for the Forest Service. Ruth and Don moved to Cloquet, Minn., where she worked at the Cloquet Hospital and at the Jay Cook Fire Tower in the Jay Cook State Park. Later they moved to Isle, Minn., near Mille Lacs Lake, then to Floodwood, Minn., until 1975. At that time they moved to Grand Marais, Minn., where Ruth worked as a nurse's aide.
In 1980, they moved to Grand Rapids, Minn., where Ruth again worked as a nurse's aide until her retirement in 1986. In 1988, she and Donald moved to Ottertail, Minn., and in 1995, to Detroit Lakes. Ruth was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Don Briese of Detroit Lakes; two daughters, Marilyn (Tom) Erickson of Bemidji and Joan (Ron) Gervais of Grand Marais; one son, Duane (Sandy) Briese and his wife of Galesville, Wis.; two sisters, Lois Hynes of Luverne, Minn., and Mildred "Midge" (Don) Cole of Fairmont, Minn.; as two grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. Preceding Ruth in death were her parents and four brothers, Glenn, Bob, Barney, and Bill Baird.
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Funeral services were held Saturday, April 1 at Zion Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes, with the Rev. Dan Abrahams officiating. Interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery, Detroit Lakes. The David-Donehower Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes has been serving the family.
