1923
Ruth
2024
Ruth Susan Jenkinson
December 2, 1923 — June 16, 2024
Ruth Susan Jenkinson, of Fargo, ND, passed away on June 16, 2024, following an extended illness.
Ruth was born on December 2, 1923, at Height of Land Township, Becker County, Minnesota, the daughter of Frederick and Mathilda Bartel Sunram, and granddaughter of Wilhelm Sunram, one of the pioneer settlers of Becker County and a leading member of the German immigrant community.
Ruth graduated from Frazee High School and then attended Detroit Lakes Business School. At the outbreak of World War II, she ventured to Washington D.C., where she was employed by the FBI. She later returned to Detroit Lakes to work for Senator A. O. Sletvold. In 1947, she married Harold L. Jenkinson in Detroit Lakes. The couple moved to Moorhead, MN and in 1956, to Fargo. During these years she was employed by Kirke Associates, Architects and Engineers. In 1971, the couple moved to Urbana, IL where she was employed by the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, while her husband was in the Masters Program in Architecture. After returning to Fargo, she was employed by Lightowler-Johnson Associates, Architects and Engineers, until her retirement in 1992.
Despite living in Fargo, Ruth never let go of her roots in Becker County. She and Harold maintained a vacation home at Cotton Lake, where they were active in the Cotton Lake Yacht Club and later, the Cotton Lake Association.
Ruth strongly believed that faith, good work, and family were keys to a happy and productive life. In this regard, she was active in community organizations, including the Fine Arts Club, the YWCA, the Cub Scouts, the NDSU Faculty Wives' Club, and the Study Club of Fargo. She was a long-time volunteer at Dakota Hospital and, later, MeritCare Hospital, South Campus. She was a member of Olivet Lutheran Church.
Ruth's surviving family includes her two sons, Bruce, Minneapolis, MN and Thomas, San Rafael, CA, his husband Monty Alix, and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Sadie Steuart, Lorna Amdal, and Irene Sturgeon, and by her husband, Harold.
A private memorial service will be held at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home. Gifts in memory of Ruth may be directed to the Cotton Lake Area Foundation, care of West Central Initiative at wcif.org/fund/cla.
Ruth was born on December 2, 1923, at Height of Land Township, Becker County, Minnesota, the daughter of Frederick and Mathilda Bartel Sunram, and granddaughter of Wilhelm Sunram, one of the pioneer settlers of Becker County and a leading member of the German immigrant community.
Ruth graduated from Frazee High School and then attended Detroit Lakes Business School. At the outbreak of World War II, she ventured to Washington D.C., where she was employed by the FBI. She later returned to Detroit Lakes to work for Senator A. O. Sletvold. In 1947, she married Harold L. Jenkinson in Detroit Lakes. The couple moved to Moorhead, MN and in 1956, to Fargo. During these years she was employed by Kirke Associates, Architects and Engineers. In 1971, the couple moved to Urbana, IL where she was employed by the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, while her husband was in the Masters Program in Architecture. After returning to Fargo, she was employed by Lightowler-Johnson Associates, Architects and Engineers, until her retirement in 1992.
Despite living in Fargo, Ruth never let go of her roots in Becker County. She and Harold maintained a vacation home at Cotton Lake, where they were active in the Cotton Lake Yacht Club and later, the Cotton Lake Association.
Ruth strongly believed that faith, good work, and family were keys to a happy and productive life. In this regard, she was active in community organizations, including the Fine Arts Club, the YWCA, the Cub Scouts, the NDSU Faculty Wives' Club, and the Study Club of Fargo. She was a long-time volunteer at Dakota Hospital and, later, MeritCare Hospital, South Campus. She was a member of Olivet Lutheran Church.
Ruth's surviving family includes her two sons, Bruce, Minneapolis, MN and Thomas, San Rafael, CA, his husband Monty Alix, and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Sadie Steuart, Lorna Amdal, and Irene Sturgeon, and by her husband, Harold.
A private memorial service will be held at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home. Gifts in memory of Ruth may be directed to the Cotton Lake Area Foundation, care of West Central Initiative at wcif.org/fund/cla.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Susan Jenkinson, please visit our flower store.
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