Ruth Anderson

Ruth Elizabeth Anderson was born to Gustaf and Mary (Bergstrom) Peterson on July 24, 1899 on the family farm in Ellsborough Township, Murray County, Minnesota, one of a set of twins. Her brother Abel died when he was 13 months old. She was baptized and confirmed at Sillerud Lutheran Church in rural Balaton, Minnesota. She attended country school District 45 through grade 7 and graduated from Balaton 8th grade at a time when there was no high school. She continued her education at the Mankato School of Business and worked various jobs in Minneapolis until she was needed at home to be a caregiver to her aging parents and help her brothers on the farm. Following the death of Clara Youngquist, Ruth helped raise her niece, Helen Youngquist (Schmidt). Ruth married George Anderson in 1959 at Sillerud Lutheran Church after the death of George’s first wife and Ruth’s sister, Edith. The couple farmed near Ruthton, Minnesota. In 1998, Ruth moved to Boulder Estates in Marshall, Minnesota. George died in January of 2000. Ruth lived in her home at Boulder Estates until she entered Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall in 2006. She died there Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at the age of 112 years, 4 months and 26 days. Ruth was the world’s oldest surviving twin, oldest person in Minnesota, 9th oldest in the United States, 23rd oldest in the world at the time of her death and was in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Ruth was a lifetime member at Sillerud Lutheran Church in rural Balaton. She was active in the life of the congregation serving as a Sunday school teacher, choir member, Ladies Aid, and
quilting. She enjoyed gardening, quilting, playing scrabble, and was an excellent baker. Faith and family were especially important to her and she was always known as a caregiver.

Ruth is lovingly remembered by her stepsons, Philip (and Joyce) Anderson of Ruthton, Minnesota, Paul (and Marilyn) Anderson of Moorhead, Minnesota, Carl (and MaryAnn) Anderson of Mount Prospect, Illinois, and Daniel (and Bev) Anderson of Balaton, Minnesota; 17 step-grandchildren; 40 step-great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; parents; siblings, Arthur Peterson, Clara Youngquist, Abel Peterson, Emil Peterson, Edith Anderson, Harold Peterson, and Fred Peterson. Blessed be her memory!