Ruth Signe Marie Franzen

Fargo lost one of its most beloved former teachers on March 3 with the death of Ruth Franzen at the age of 91. From 1962 to 1988, she served as a classroom and special-ed reading teacher at Roosevelt and Lincoln elementary schools. Former students and fellow teachers, along with her family and a wide circle of friends, remember her fondly for her high standards, good humor and extraordinary kindness.

Ruth was born on December 18, 1925, in the farmhouse of her parents, John and Mary Franzen, near Langford, SD, the fourth of six children. After graduating from Langford High School, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in education from Northern State Teachers College (now Northern State University) in Aberdeen, SD.

She began her teaching career in one-room rural schools in the Langford area, then taught for several years in the Aberdeen public school system before moving to Fargo in 1962. During her first years of teaching here, she earned a Master’s degree from Moorhead State College (now MSU Moorhead).

In retirement, Ruth was active in the Fargo Retired Teachers Association and in the Swedish Cultural Heritage Society, and for a number of years she served as a volunteer docent at the Bergquist Cabin historic site in Moorhead. She was an active member of Elim Lutheran Church, and loved reading, gardening, knitting and crafts.

Ruth spent the last two and a half years of her life at Bethany Retirement Living on University Drive. She died on the morning of March 3 at Sanford Medical Center after surgery earlier in the week to repair a broken hip, but cause of death was likely related to other medical conditions as well.

She was preceded in death by her parents and all of her brothers and sisters – Lillian (Henning) Sjovall, Harold (Marian) Franzen, Robert (Ethel) Franzen, Evelyn Franzen, who died in infancy, and Jeanette (William) Schak. She never married and had no children, but is survived by eleven grateful nieces and nephews – Marilyn (Kent) Christensen, Linda (Gerry) Berglin, Susan (Dennis) DeClerk, Margaret Franzen, Allen (Kim) Sjovall, Jim (Carol) Sjovall, David (Janice) Franzen, Byron Franzen, Rolyn (Sandra Kloner) Franzen, Steve (Wanda) Franzen, and Douglas Franzen – and by her nephew-in-law Mark (Lynn) Jesh.

Ruth requested that any memorials be given to Elim Lutheran Church of Fargo ( www.elim-lutheran.org ) or to the Cass Clay YWCA Shelter ( www.ywcacassclay.org ).

Burial of ashes will be scheduled for a later date at the cemetery of Highlanda Lutheran Church near Langford, SD, which was Ruth’s childhood congregation.