Ruth A. Keenan

Ruth Bjornson Keenan passed away on September 21st, 2019. She was born on October 7th, 1926 and was the eldest child of Ethel Scharberg Bjornson and Oscar Theodore Bjornson of rural Hayfield Minnesota. She attended Olmsted County District #142 for eight years and graduated from Hayfield High School in 1944. From 1944 to 1946 she was a student at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa where she earned a certificate of elementary education. She taught in the Kiester, MN schools for one year prior to her marriage to William W. Keenan in 1947. A son William Jr. was born in 1948 and a daughter, Kari Ruth was born in 1958. Ruth was active in volunteer work at the Louise Whitbeck Fraser School for Special Children in Richfield which her daughter attended for seven years. She also worked for a number of years as a receptionist at Gabberts Furniture and Design Studio in Edina, MN. Ruth had many interests, but her focus revolved around her home and family. She especially enjoyed providing a home for her daughter, Kari. Researching the genealogy of her Norwegian / Swedish background was a special interest as well as cooking, learning to use her Apple computer and being with her many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Lloyd and Paul Bjornson, sisters, Mavis Nelson, Helen McEmber, her husband, William and her son, William Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Kari, daughter-in-law Laurel Keenan, three grandchildren Jesse, Jane, and James Keenan, great-granddaughters Rowan, Molly, Jaina Keenan, brother Ardean (Carma) Bjornson and sister Betty Bjornson, sister-in-laws Arlene Bjornson and a number of nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 26 at Willwerscheid Funeral Home, 235 Wentworth Ave. W., West St. Paul, MN 55118. Visitation 1 hour prior to service. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 26 at Willwerscheid Funeral Home, 235 Wentworth Ave. W., West St. Paul, MN 55118. Visitation 1 hour prior to service.