1917
Ruth
2007
Ruth Farrow
December 15, 1917 — September 25, 2007
Ruth Farrow, age 89, of Richville, MN, died Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at The Thomas House in Perham, MN, after a short illness. Funeral services will be Saturday, September 29, 2007, at 10:00 am at the United Methodist Church, Richville, MN, with Pastor Rod Tornquist officiating. Cremation will follow with later interment at the Oakdale Cemetery, Adel, IA. Visitation will be Friday, September 28, at the United Methodist Church, Richville, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.
Ruth Farrow was born December 15, 1917, in Cerro Gordo County, IA, the daughter of Charles L. "Tip" and Goldie M. (Howard) Mitchell. She grew up on the family farm north of Clear Lake, IA, the third of five siblings. She never finished high school because her brother quit and "girls didn't need any learning." She, however, was a lifelong learner and went on to be head cook at the Veteran's Home and Hospital in Des Moines, IA. At age 18 she married I. Lynn Farrow, a drummer in her father's dance band. The marriage was against her father's wishes but she made it work.
After her retirement from the Veteran's Administration, Ruth and Lynn made a permanent move to their cabin on Dead Lake in Minnesota. She soon became site manager for the Richville Senior Center and decided that lake living in the winter limited her ability to get to work so she bought a house at 120 Honey Acres. She held that position at the Senior Center until Lynn died in 1988. At that point she accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and became active as a volunteer in the Richville United Methodist Church and in the community. These volunteer activities included the Senior Center, her church, RSVP and Women?s Relief Corps. At the church she served in several capacities, the last being Communion Steward.
Ruth loved gardening and her houseplants. In the summer she would gather several gallons of rainwater for her plants through the winter. Her favorite pastime was cooking and watching people enjoy what she had prepared. She loved people and was always ready to help someone and her friends abounded.
At the time of death, Ruth was a resident of The Thomas House and enjoyed the residents and care givers as well as the backyard deck and swing.
Mourning Ruth's death are her sons, Lynn "Pete" L. (Barbara) Farrow, FL; and Russel K. (Beverly) Farrow, WY; grandson, Bruce L. (Karen) Farrow, FL; granddaughters, Melinda "Mindy" K. Adams, SC; and Becky S. (Steve) Hansen, AZ; great grandson, Garth S. Hansen, AZ; great granddaughter, Skye M. Hansen, AZ; great great grandsons, Garrett E. Hansen, AZ; and Kayden S. Hansen-Maness, AZ; sisters-in-law, Louise Jones and Helen Peterson; brothers-in-law, Robert, Jay, and Donald Farrow; numerous nieces, nephews, many other friends and her closest friend, Elsie Smith.
Preceding Ruth in death are her parents; her husband, Lynn; brothers, Howard and Kenneth Mitchell; sisters, Esther Beal and H. Kathryn Eckberg; one son, Leroy E. Farrow; three sisters-in-law and one nephew.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the Richville United Methodist Church Building Fund or the Alzheimer's Association.
Ruth Farrow was born December 15, 1917, in Cerro Gordo County, IA, the daughter of Charles L. "Tip" and Goldie M. (Howard) Mitchell. She grew up on the family farm north of Clear Lake, IA, the third of five siblings. She never finished high school because her brother quit and "girls didn't need any learning." She, however, was a lifelong learner and went on to be head cook at the Veteran's Home and Hospital in Des Moines, IA. At age 18 she married I. Lynn Farrow, a drummer in her father's dance band. The marriage was against her father's wishes but she made it work.
After her retirement from the Veteran's Administration, Ruth and Lynn made a permanent move to their cabin on Dead Lake in Minnesota. She soon became site manager for the Richville Senior Center and decided that lake living in the winter limited her ability to get to work so she bought a house at 120 Honey Acres. She held that position at the Senior Center until Lynn died in 1988. At that point she accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and became active as a volunteer in the Richville United Methodist Church and in the community. These volunteer activities included the Senior Center, her church, RSVP and Women?s Relief Corps. At the church she served in several capacities, the last being Communion Steward.
Ruth loved gardening and her houseplants. In the summer she would gather several gallons of rainwater for her plants through the winter. Her favorite pastime was cooking and watching people enjoy what she had prepared. She loved people and was always ready to help someone and her friends abounded.
At the time of death, Ruth was a resident of The Thomas House and enjoyed the residents and care givers as well as the backyard deck and swing.
Mourning Ruth's death are her sons, Lynn "Pete" L. (Barbara) Farrow, FL; and Russel K. (Beverly) Farrow, WY; grandson, Bruce L. (Karen) Farrow, FL; granddaughters, Melinda "Mindy" K. Adams, SC; and Becky S. (Steve) Hansen, AZ; great grandson, Garth S. Hansen, AZ; great granddaughter, Skye M. Hansen, AZ; great great grandsons, Garrett E. Hansen, AZ; and Kayden S. Hansen-Maness, AZ; sisters-in-law, Louise Jones and Helen Peterson; brothers-in-law, Robert, Jay, and Donald Farrow; numerous nieces, nephews, many other friends and her closest friend, Elsie Smith.
Preceding Ruth in death are her parents; her husband, Lynn; brothers, Howard and Kenneth Mitchell; sisters, Esther Beal and H. Kathryn Eckberg; one son, Leroy E. Farrow; three sisters-in-law and one nephew.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the Richville United Methodist Church Building Fund or the Alzheimer's Association.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Farrow, please visit our flower store.