Henry Ruter

Henry G. Ruter, age 83, of Willmar, died Sunday afternoon, June 5, at his home in Willmar surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 9, at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar.  The interment will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, at the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.  Memorials are preferred to Bethel Lutheran Church or Rice Hospice.

Henry George Ruter was born on December 17, 1927 in Whitefield Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, the son of Minnie (Ritz) and George Henry Ruter. He was baptized at the Presbyterian Church in Willmar on April 7, 1929. He attended school in Priam and had many fond memories of growing up in that area. On November 18, 1950 he was united in marriage to Mildred Hannah Skoglund at Bethel Lutheran Church and they made their home in Willmar.  They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past November. Henry worked for the Kandiyohi Creamery and Farmers Produce and retired after working for Cenex in Willmar for 30 years. After retirement he continued to drive truck for Youngren Dairy Farms, Nelson International, Dunn Trucking and Central Lakes Cooperative.

Henry was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church where he was an usher and greeter.  He also was a Gold Star member of the Willmar Eagles Club.  Henry loved being with family and friends and enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, playing softball, and he especially loved to attend his children and grandchildren's baseball, softball and basketball games.

He is survived by his wife: Millie of Willmar; five children: Marlene (and William) Freeman of Apple Valley, Lily (and Mark) Ruplinger of Willmar, Deborah (and Richard) Otte of Spicer, Douglas (and Lisa) Ruter of Willmar and Sharon (and Jon) Rambow of Willmar.  Also surviving are twelve grandchildren: Matthew and Molly Freeman, Heidi (and Jay) Magnuson, Amy (and Aaron) Zwagerman, Adam (and Heather) Ruplinger, Jill (and Eric) VanEps, Jason Otte, Damon and Leah Ruter and Jacob, Austin and Dalton Rambow; seven great-grandchildren: Hunter and Hannah Magnuson, Ally and Ava Zwagerman, Carter and MacKenzie Ruplinger, Kylee VanEps; two brothers: George (and Julie) Ruter of Willmar and Gerald (and Betty) Ruter of Willmar; seven sisters: Fannie  Mithaugen of Willmar, Tillie (and Myron) Hauge of Willmar, Ruth Hauge of Willmar,  Alice (and Ed) Jaenisch of Willmar, Tina Harried of Sacred Heart, Louise (and Curtney) Carlson of Pennock and Linda (and Clinton) Kamstra of Willmar; one uncle: Henry (and Pat) Ritz of Willmar; and many nieces, nephews and cousins; besides other  relatives and friends.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, John and Herbert Ruter.