Ruth Christensen

Ruth Louise Koch Christensen, age 81, of Green Lake, Town of Brooklyn, died unexpectedly Sunday morning, July 29, 2001, at Ripon Medical Center.

She was born September 1, 1919, in Seward, Nebraska, a daughter to Ernest and Lydia (Schneider) Koch. She graduated from Garland High School, attended the University of Nebraska from 1937-1939, and taught school in Tamora and Utica, Nebraska and Orient, Iowa. Then during the wartime she did her patriotic duty and started working at the Glen L. Martin Aircraft Plant in Omaha, Nebraska in June 1942. She later married Delbert Christensen on June 10, 1944, in Creston, Iowa. They moved to Philadelphia after their wedding and then lived at Overbrook, PA as Del was a special agent in the F.B.I. In February 1946, Del resigned and took a position with Flex-O-Glass, Inc. in Chicago, and they moved to Elmhurst, Illinois where they lived for 42 years, and raised their children.

Ruth was a homemaker, community leader, and a noteworthy
American. She was a very active leader in school and her church. She was co-founder of the V-Knots organization which began in the Elmhurst YMCA. In 1974, she received the Outstanding Program Award from the YMCA. Y-Knots evolved into a non-profit organization, RE-AL, Inc and moved to the Elmhurst Presbyterian Church where it grew to include more than 300 participants. Ruth received a B.A. degree in Christian Education from Elmhurst College in 1970. In 1978, she received a Master Degree in Organizational Management from Aurora University.

The family moved from Elmhurst to Green Lake in 1985, and Ruth completed field study for her master’s degree at the American Baptist Assembly at Green Lake, WI. In 1979, she volunteered at the A.B.A. and continued every summer for 21 years. She shared the Green Lake Conference Center National Leadership Award with her husband, Delbert in 1999. Ruth was always active as an organist and music programmer in the church. She was a great organizer, taught tine dancing, played in bands, and was an avid gardener. Ruth was an author of Christian literature and children’s books. She will be remembered for her love of life, and the uplifting and fun activities throughout her Christian life.



Survivors include her husband, Delbert of Green Lake; children, Ruth Ingrid (Andrew) Laurie of Tucson, AZ, Connie Jo (John) Blumthal of Portland, OR, Mark Alan Christensen of Salt Lake City, UT, and David Lars (Julie) Christensen of Park City, UT; grandchildren, Jesse Laurie, Yetive Ruth Laurie, Adam Laurie, Zander Laurie, Steve Shepro, Amy Jo Shepro, Chris Blumthal, Eric Christensen, Laurel Christensen, and Bryan Christensen; and 1 sister, Elda Adams of Creston, Iowa. Her parents and brother preceded her in death.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 2, 2001 at Bauer Lodge, American Baptist Assembly, Green Lake with Rev. Karen Gygax Rodriguez officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Baptist Assembly in Ruth’s name.