Ruth Koenig

was born to Peter and Myrtle (Johnson) Hagedorn on July 29, 1920 on a farm near Royal, Iowa. She was baptized on August 29, 1920 in Royal, and she attended country school in Lincoln No. 4. On April 14, 1935, she was confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal. When she completed the eighth grade, she continued her education at Royal High School. After her high school graduation in May, 1938, she helped at home and also did housework for area residents. On April 19, 1941, she was united in marriage to Laurnie William True Koenig at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal. Following their marriage, they lived at his parents’ home near Darfur, Minnesota. Three years later, they moved to a farm by Royal where Ruth worked as the cook at the school from 1966 to 1975. In 1975, they moved to Ruthton, Minnesota. While living in Ruthton, Ruth worked as a part-time cook at the school. On April 6, 1984, her husband preceded her in death. After his death, she continued to work at the school until her retirement in 1995. On March 3, 2011, Ruth was admitted to the Hospice of Murray County in Slayton, Minnesota where she died on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at the age of 90 years, eight months and 13 days.

Ruth was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton where she was active in the Ladies Aid and the St. Luke Circle. She also volunteered her time to quilt at church. She enjoyed crocheting and doing other needlework projects. She had made each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren an afghan. She liked to bake, and she spent many hours in her garden. She was known by her friends and family as being very hospitable. Every time you visited her, you knew you would have a cup of coffee and a treat and you probably would take home one of her handmade items.

She is lovingly remembered by her four children, Dennis Koenig and his wife Melva of Ruthton, Minnesota, Lou Ann Beard and her husband Mike of Knoxville, Iowa, Sharon Thompson of Windom, Minnesota, and Ilene Drews and her husband Ben of Fort Collins, Colorado; her daughter-in-law, Cindy Koenig of Ruthton, Minnesota; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lois Koenig of Royal, Iowa, and Marian Crane and her husband Carl of Spencer, Iowa; and numerous other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; her son, Larry Koenig; her grandson, Rodney Koenig; her parents; and her son-in-law, Basil Thompson.