Ellsworth "Art" Ruud

Ellsworth “Art” Ruud, 82, died on January 22, 2016 at Villa Maria Nursing Home under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Art was born on September 14, 1933 to Dorothy (Johnstone) and Sigurd Ruud of Ogilvie, MN. He grew up on the family farm near Fish Lake attending country school and Ogilvie High School.
He joined the United States Army April 13, 1954 and served at Camp Gordon, Georgia and Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. He was honorably discharged on April 12, 1956 and returned to Minnesota.
Art married Beverly Johnson on October 23, 1965 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mora, MN. They had two boys.

Art worked for Barbarosa Construction Company until he joined Moorhead Construction in 1962 as a superintendent, building water treatment and sewage disposal plants. Later, he transferred to their office as a purchasing agent and expediter which prompted them to move to Moorhead where they made their home. After he retired from Moorhead Construction, he worked in the field for Abbott, Arne and Schwindt and at the Moorhead I-94 Rest Area.

Art enjoyed many years of deer hunting north of Duluth. He also always looked forward to his annual fishing trips to Lake of the Woods with Mid-America Steel.

Art had many hobbies. His garden was his pride and joy and he always helped with the canning. He was also well known by his friends for the wonderful pies and baked goods he made. He loved little children. He frequently had neighborhood children at his family home wanting to play and help him do things.

Art is survived by his wife, Beverly; children, Todd of Fargo and Keith (Carla) of Moorhead; brother, Robert of Golden Valley, MN; sisters, Delores of Buffalo, MN and Evelyn of New Brighton, MN; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, and one sister.

Please join the family for lunch and visitation on Saturday, January 30, from 11:30AM-1PM with a memorial service to follow at 1PM, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, 215 7th St. S, Fargo.