Ruth Pudas

The funeral service for Ruth M. Pudas of Sebeka will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2013, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena with Pastor Stephen Meltzer officiating. Friends may call on Tuesday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena. Visitation will resume at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Ruth passed away at the age of 87, on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at the Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena. Ruth Mary Pudas was born April 6, 1926 to Edward and Hilja (Roiko) Luoma. Oldest of 6 children, she was married to Clifford Peterson in 1944. In 1951, they bought the farm in Sebeka and had 2 children, Warren and Nancy. After Clifford's death in 1972, she was united in marriage to Murlyn Pudas in 1977. Together they owned and operated the Pudas Carpet Cleaning business until 1988. Murlyn passed away in 2008. Ruth was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena, the American Legion Auxiliary in Sebeka, a life member of the VFW Auxiliary in Wadena and DAVA in Park Rapids. She was also an active member on the Wadena County Health Board. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Clifford and Murlyn; son Warren Peterson; sisters Beatrice Luoma and Ellen Mattila; and brother Arnold Luoma. She is survived by her daughter Nancy Peterson of Aurora, CO; daughter-in-law Becky Peterson of Moorhead, MN; stepchildren Richard (Nancy) Pudas of Eden Prairie, MN, Ranaye (Dick) Kluenenberg of Barnum, MN, Randy (Mary) Pudas of Menahga, MN, Rhonda (Tom) Ellenbecker of St. Joseph, MN, Russell (Heather) Pudas of Northfield, MN, and Robert (Char) Pudas of Becker, MN; sisters Doris Bauck of Oregon and Jane (Bob) Darling of Massachusetts; along with numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Ruth’s grandchildren and great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Kristopher Peterson, Colby Pudas, Zach Pudas, Elijah Stenman, Nathan Kluenenberg, Keegan Pudas and Matt Pudas. Burial will be next to her first husband in Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Loved by family, she will be missed by many.

Ruth Pudas

April 6, 1926 - September 5, 2013