1936 – Elaine Dorothy Ruesch – 2019
Elaine Ruesch, the daughter of Gerhard and Hulda (Preuss) Beeck, was born on February 29, 1936 in Seward Township, Nobles County Minnesota. She moved from the farm at a young age when the family moved into Fulda, Minnesota. She attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School and graduated from the Fulda High School. Elaine was united in marriage to Dale Ruesch on August 23, 1957 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fulda. After their marriage they lived on a farm southwest of Fulda until 1964 when they moved to the family farm between Worthington and Fulda. Over the years she did babysitting for numerous children who considered her as a grandma. Elaine passed away on Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at the Sanford Worthington Medical Center in Worthington at the age of 83. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for 40 years and did quilting. Elaine also belonged to the Gideon’s International where she served as Secretary and President. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, fishing, wild asparagus hunting, traveling and loved dogs.
Survivors include her four children: Gayle (Stephen) Clark, St. Cloud, MN, Melanie (Gary) Fisher, Holdingford, MN, Greg Ruesch, Brewster, MN and Karen (LeRoy) Gielen, Avon, MN; seven grandchildren: Kaden Ruesch, Paige Gielen, Amanda Gielen, Kimberly Haight, Samuel Gielen, Alexis Gielen and Ariel Gilbert; two great-grandchildren; siblings: Ione Newman, Fulda, MN, Darlene Gehl, Fulda, MN, Lyle (Merna) Beeck, Fulda, MN, Isabelle (Larry) Koster, Fulda, MN, Bernie (Lyla) Beeck, Frazee, MN and Evie Beck, San Luis Obispo, CA; as well as nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; an infant son; two sisters: Irene Schurr and Viola Christensen; brother Lester Beeck and infant brother Vernon Beeck.
Funeral services were held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Fulda, MN at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 8, 2019 with Rev. Shawn Ethridge officiating. The organist was Loretta Gehl. Pallbearers were Jim Beeck, Jon Beeck, Kevin Beeck, Kurt Beeck, Dan Ruesch, Tim Beeck, Dan Koster and Kaden Ruesch. Interment at Prairie Hill Cemetery Fulda, MN. The Totzke Funeral Home in Fulda assisted the family with arrangements. Send condolences online at www.totzkefuneralhome.com.