Ruth Rydquist

Ruth Corlyss (Kveen) Rydquist, beloved child of God, completed her journey home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 23, 2016, under hospice care at Bethany on University in Fargo, ND. She was born to Thore and Julia (Listug) Kveen August 28, 1917, in Roseau, MN, where her father was in the furniture and undertaking business. She was preceded in death by her father and mother; brother, Gordon Kveen; and sister, Anna Sveom.

Ruth was baptized as an infant and was confirmed in Moe Lutheran Free Church in Roseau. She attended Roseau public schools, graduating from Roseau High School in 1934, where she was active in the music department. She continued her higher education at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN, graduating with a major in English in 1939. During her college years, Ruth, known as "Queenie," was a choir soloist with the Augsburg Concert Choir which toured each year in the U.S.

After graduation from Augsburg, Ruth worked as assistant to the Roseau County Superintendent of Schools, and on September 21, 1944, married Rev. Lawrence Eugene Rydquist, a college classmate and tenor soloist in the choir.

Their first parish was in Griswold, IA, serving Faith and Tabor Lutheran Churches. In 1948, Pastor Rydquist was called to serve Nebo Lutheran Church in Valley City, ND, where they moved and served until his retirement in 1978. While answering God's first call as mother to four children, Ruth served her Lord as the Nebo choir director, taught Sunday school, and was active with the women's organizations in the church while volunteering at the polls during election years in the Valley City community.

Upon retirement from church ministry, Rev. Rydquist took on the chaplaincy position at Sheyenne Care Center, Valley City, for 17 years during which time Ruth served as chairperson of the Women's Auxiliary and organized and directed the Care Center choir. As members of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, they sang with the church choir and Ruth taught a "Search Bible Study" class for five years. She also enjoyed the Monday morning "Prayer Break" and Wednesday morning Bible study. Studying God's word was Ruth's favorite activity and she was a life-long prayer warrior.

When Rev. Rydquist was no longer able to carry out his chaplaincy duties, they moved to the Heritage House in Fargo, October of 2000. They became members of First Lutheran Church, located across the parking lot from their apartment. Following Lawrence's death in June of 2002, Ruth began attending the "International Bible Study Fellowship" hosted by First Lutheran, which she attended for 7 years with daughter, Judy. Ruth was also faithful to offer financial support, in response to God's goodness to her, to many faith-based organizations and projects reaching around the world nearly to her final days on earth.

Ruth's survivors include four children, David (Cheryl) of Placerville, CA, Judy (Mark) Wagar of Fargo, Elizabeth (Gregory) Mangold of Richfield, MN, and Paul (Mary) of Cloverdale, CA; 7 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 31, 2016, from 5-8 PM in the chapel of First Lutheran Church, Fargo.

The funeral service will be held Monday, August 1, 2016, at 11 AM in the sanctuary of First Lutheran Church followed by lunch in the Celebration Hall.

Interment will be in Memory Gardens in Valley City.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Red River Valley in Fargo, www.hrrv.org/

Arrangements by Korsmo Funeral Service, Moorhead, MN.