1931
Max
2005
Max VonRuden
August 18, 1931 — February 21, 2005
Funeral services for Max B. Von Ruden, age 73, of Perham, MN, will be Thursday, February 24, 2005, beginning at 11:00 a.m., at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Perham, with Reverend Terry Grzybowski officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation at Schoeneberger Funeral Home, Perham, is Wednesday, February 23, 2005, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., as well as one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Max died Monday, February 21, 2005, at the Perham Memorial Hospital.
Max was born in Steele County, Owatonna, MN, August 18, 1931, to Mathew and Mollian (Warner) Von Ruden. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Owatonna. Max attended elementary there until his family moved to Perham in 1947. He graduated from Perham High School in 1950. After graduation, Max sold insurance for Northwestern National Life, of Fargo, ND. In 1952, he worked for Allen and Buker Farm Implement of St. Cloud, MN, in sales and as a mechanic.
Max married Vila "Vi" Greiff, August 15, 1953. They owned a cafAsh in Perham from 1954-1956. Max?s love of tractors and machinery was his life which led to his purchase of a farm in Perham in 1957 as well as his employment for the Perham and New York Mills Creameries until he started a dairy herd in 1960. He was a talented mechanic and, if he needed to, he could make a part to fix and make anything work. In 1986, Max quit farming. He then worked for Northern Mechanics and Minnesota Valley Irrigation until he retired in 1996. Max?s love for deer hunting and fishing trips was only overshadowed by his love for his family. He loved to go for drives in the car but usually ended up in machinery and car lots before going home. Highlights for Max after his retirement included special trips to the Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI; Phoenix, AZ; the Grand Canyon; Glacier National Park; visiting the eastern states; snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park and a very special trip to Oesdorf, Germany, to the family homestead.
Surviving Max is his wife, Vi, of Perham, MN, his children, Nancy (Loren) Livesay, of Billings, MT, Susan (Ron) Struchen, of Little Falls, MN, Jane (Larry) Wankel, of Perham, MN, and John (Sue) Von Ruden, of Perham, MN; five granddaughters, Jeni Clarkson, Katie Schmitz, Claire Honer, Mollian Von Ruden and Ella Von Ruden; six grandsons, Austin Livesay, Benjamin Livesay, Jason Nundahl, Travis Struchen, Tony Schmitz and Jonnie Schmitz; one great-grandson, Alex Clarkson; brother, Thomas (Charlene) Von Ruden, of Frazee, MN; brother-in-law, Arland (Bridgette) Greiff, of Phoenix, AZ; sister-in-laws, Edith (Matt) Von Ruden, of Perham, MN, Judy (Thaddeus)Von Ruden, of New York Mills, MN, Ethel (Milo) Vaughn, of New York Mills, MN and Eileen (Ervin) Tolkinen, of Perham, MN.
Preceding Max in death was an infant son, Anthony; his father, Mathew, Sr.; his mother, Mollian and brothers Mathew, Jr. and Thaddeus.
Arrangements are with Schoeneberger Funeral Home, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175
Online tributes may be posted at www.schoenebergerfuneralhome.com
Max was born in Steele County, Owatonna, MN, August 18, 1931, to Mathew and Mollian (Warner) Von Ruden. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Owatonna. Max attended elementary there until his family moved to Perham in 1947. He graduated from Perham High School in 1950. After graduation, Max sold insurance for Northwestern National Life, of Fargo, ND. In 1952, he worked for Allen and Buker Farm Implement of St. Cloud, MN, in sales and as a mechanic.
Max married Vila "Vi" Greiff, August 15, 1953. They owned a cafAsh in Perham from 1954-1956. Max?s love of tractors and machinery was his life which led to his purchase of a farm in Perham in 1957 as well as his employment for the Perham and New York Mills Creameries until he started a dairy herd in 1960. He was a talented mechanic and, if he needed to, he could make a part to fix and make anything work. In 1986, Max quit farming. He then worked for Northern Mechanics and Minnesota Valley Irrigation until he retired in 1996. Max?s love for deer hunting and fishing trips was only overshadowed by his love for his family. He loved to go for drives in the car but usually ended up in machinery and car lots before going home. Highlights for Max after his retirement included special trips to the Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI; Phoenix, AZ; the Grand Canyon; Glacier National Park; visiting the eastern states; snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park and a very special trip to Oesdorf, Germany, to the family homestead.
Surviving Max is his wife, Vi, of Perham, MN, his children, Nancy (Loren) Livesay, of Billings, MT, Susan (Ron) Struchen, of Little Falls, MN, Jane (Larry) Wankel, of Perham, MN, and John (Sue) Von Ruden, of Perham, MN; five granddaughters, Jeni Clarkson, Katie Schmitz, Claire Honer, Mollian Von Ruden and Ella Von Ruden; six grandsons, Austin Livesay, Benjamin Livesay, Jason Nundahl, Travis Struchen, Tony Schmitz and Jonnie Schmitz; one great-grandson, Alex Clarkson; brother, Thomas (Charlene) Von Ruden, of Frazee, MN; brother-in-law, Arland (Bridgette) Greiff, of Phoenix, AZ; sister-in-laws, Edith (Matt) Von Ruden, of Perham, MN, Judy (Thaddeus)Von Ruden, of New York Mills, MN, Ethel (Milo) Vaughn, of New York Mills, MN and Eileen (Ervin) Tolkinen, of Perham, MN.
Preceding Max in death was an infant son, Anthony; his father, Mathew, Sr.; his mother, Mollian and brothers Mathew, Jr. and Thaddeus.
Arrangements are with Schoeneberger Funeral Home, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175
Online tributes may be posted at www.schoenebergerfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Max VonRuden, please visit our flower store.