Nelvin D. Van Ruler

NELVIN DAVID VAN RULER was born on November 28, 1949, to Joe and Mary (Bothof) Van Ruler in Slayton, Minnesota. He was raised in Lake Wilson, Minnesota and attended Edgerton High School. In addition to working on the farm of Winthrop Warren, Nelvin furthered his education by receiving his degree in auto mechanics at Pipestone Vocational School where he graduated in 1969 and went on to work at DeVries Implement in Pipestone. Nelvin was united in marriage to Linda Gilles on August 21, 1970 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church and the couple made their first home in Pipestone. One year later, Nelvin and Linda relocated to a farm near Hatfield, Minnesota and resided here until 1979, when they moved to a farm just outside of Trosky, Minnesota. In 1983, they became owners of the Trosky Bar and continued to operate it for ten years. During the first few years of the bar’s operation, Nelvin also worked with Winters Concrete. Nelvin and Linda resided in town in Trosky in 1985, and also loved spending time at their property on Lake Benton where they moved full-time in 2009. Nelvin enjoyed his 25-year career as a route salesman with Gorter Clay and Dairy before his retirement in the spring of 2018. Later that year, Nelvin received his diagnosis of cancer and on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, Nelvin passed away peacefully at his home with his loving family by his side at the age of 69 years, seven months, and 26 days.

Nelvin was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Pipestone. He was a member of the Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus. Nelvin also served on the Trosky City Council. He will be remembered by his outgoing personality, he didn’t let too many people cross his path without striking up a conversation. He showed his softer side with the love he had for his beloved dogs, but his favorite way to spend time was by being surrounded with his grandchildren.

He is remembered by his wife, Linda of Lake Benton; children, Scott of Lake Benton, Tamra (Virgil) Hammerschmidt of Trosky, Minnesota, and Joe (Kara) of Brandon, South Dakota; grandchildren, Shay Murphy, Cailey, and Brecken; siblings, Henry of Lake Wilson, Marion of Lake Wilson, Harris (Florence) of Chandler, Margaret Faber of Woodstock, Minnesota, Jean (Dale) Petersen of Park Rapids, Minnesota, Don (Mary Jo) of Avery, Wisconsin, and Betty (Bob) Zahnow of Big Stone City, South Dakota; and many other friends and relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Martha.