Ruth Guptill

Ruth Mildred Guptill, age 92, of Willmar died Saturday morning, March 1, at Rice Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, March 6, at Calvary Lutheran Church with Rev. Barbara Johnson officiating. Interment will be at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 P.M. on Wednesday, March 5, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.
Ruth was born on June 12, 1915, in Willmar, Minnesota, the daughter of Otto and Mina (Bredeson) Johnson. She grew up in the Willmar community, was baptized and confirmed at Vinje Lutheran Church and received her elementary education at the Golden Rod school and graduated from Willmar High School in 1933. On April 18, 1936, Ruth was married to Robert E. Guptill. They lived in Minneapolis, Paynesville and moved to Willmar in 1940. She was a homemaker and worked part time at the Willmar Public Library with the Bookmobile program. Ruth was a life member of Vinje Lutheran Church and was active in ALCW, church prayer chain and also made candles for the Vinje's holiday fair for over 42 years. She and Robert spent their summers at their cabin on Norway Lake. Together they enjoyed fishing and camping, especially with their grandchildren. She enjoyed going to garage sales, sewing, quilting, and making various crafts and candles. Ruth was also a great cook and pie maker.
She is survived by her husband, Robert of Willmar; three children, Alan (and Virginia) Guptill of Park Rapids, Carolyn (and Curtis) Olson of Willmar and Barry (and Christine) of Park Rapids; five grandchildren; five great grandchildren and one great great grandson. Also surviving is a brother, Fredinand (and Winifred) Johnson of Fresno,California, besides other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers, Martin, Olaf, Alfred, Edward, Herman and Henry; three sisters, Olga, Edith and Esther and two grandchildren in infancy.