Ruth Burrows

Lena Ruth Burrows died on Wednesday, December 24, at the Perham Memorial Hospital, two days before her 102nd birthday. She was born on December 26, 1901 in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of Willam and Mary Shoup. On her mothers side, Ruth was a descendent of a long line of a Williams family that can be traced back to colonial days. Part of Ruth's childhood was spent in Springfield, and from 1905 to 1908, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, in what was then Indian territory. Oklahoma had not yet achieved statehood. Her family then returned to Springfield. From there, Ruth came to Minnesota, to New York Mills in 1918, where she worked as a telephone operator. There she met Eugene Burrows, and they were married in 1919. Ruth and Gene then moved to Springfield, where they lived until 1928. Four of their children were born in Springfield; Frances, Bettie, Donald and Rosella. In 1928 the family returned to Minnesota, locating in wAdena, where Alyce and David were born. Eugene died in 1976 and Ruth maintained their residence in WAdena until 1994, when she moved to Perham. Ruth was a person of singular note and character. Remarkably, Ruth Burrow's life spans the 20th century; the wars, the depression of the 1930's, the great social and technological changes of those times. Throughout it all, Ruth was an adept practitioner of managing a household and rearing a family. Despite the busy days, Ruth kept up a wide variety of interests. She stayed abreast of domestic and international affairs, and would occasionally write a Senator or Congressman about her content or discontent with one political action or another. Locally, she was active in the civic affairs of her hometown. She was musically talented, encouraging her children in their musical pursuits. And somehow, among those 16 hour days, she became an accomplished seamstress, turning out fashions of designer quality. For the last nine years of her life, Ruth has lived at Someplace Special, an aided living home in Perham, under the attentive care of Luann Peterson. Her son David has been devotedly active in her maintenance. Ruth is survived by six children; Frances, who also lives at Someplace Special, Bettie of Battle Lake, Donald of Staples, Rosella of Sacramento, CA, Alyce of Garfield, AK and David of Wadena. Among other survivors is an extended family of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. And sons in law Joe Sartino and Leslie Beldo, daughters in law Mary and Louise Burrows. Many dear friends also survive. And thus we say farewell to this grand and lovely lady, Ruth Burrows.

Ruth Burrows

December 26, 1901 - December 24, 2003