Ruth I. Knapp

Ruth I. Knapp age 103 of Detroit Lakes, MN died Monday December 5, 2016 at Ecumen – Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, MN. Ruth I. Olson was born at Thief River Falls, MN on March 29, 1913 to Rudolph and Amelia (Aslakson) Olson. She was raised on a farm near Clontarf, MN. Ruth graduated from Benson High School in 1931 and attended Moorhead State Teachers College from 1931-1932. For financial reasons, she could not continue with her education and had to go to work. From 1933 to 1935, Ruth did housework for Pete Nelson of Dilworth. Then she started caring for Angie Gardner (William Knapp’s mother) and worked at Bill’s Corner from 1935 to 1936. Ruth married William (Bill) Knapp on July 18, 1937. Jobs were in short supply during the Great Depression. With the repeal of prohibition in 1935, Ruth found work in a restaurant called the Silver Moon Café. She worked there from 1936 until 1958. During this time Ruth and Bill lived in Dilworth. They bought a cottage on Twin Lakes in 1941 and sold it in 1949. In 1958 they moved to the Sivertson Lake farm, which they had purchased in 1950. With Bill’s health declining, they sold the farm and purchased a home in Detroit Lakes in 1969. For another four years, Ruth took care of Bill until he entered a nursing home in 1973. Bill passed away on January 15, 1974. Ruth maintained their home for many years before eventually moving to the Lamplighter Manor in Detroit Lakes in January 2000. Ruth was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and enjoyed being in the quilting group. She loved to go fishing and to take care of her lawn and her garden. Ruth also loved to bowl. Her first Women’s International Bowling contest was in 1950. She attended thirteen W.B.I.C. tournaments, her last one at the age of 79. She enjoyed those cross-country trips very much. Ruth joined the Rebecca’s in 1975 and attended a lovely trip to the Peace Gardens with some of the other members. Another memorable experience was her trip to Pennsylvania with her niece Lynn Burbank, and Olive Burbank, to see another niece Alane Silver and her family. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; parents, Rudolph and Amelia Olson; brothers, Juliet Olson and Ernest Olson; sisters, Harriet Lee and Genevieve Burbank; nephew, Neil Burbank; and special friend, Darrell Beck. She is survived by six nieces and nephews; LaVonne Ahrndt (Arlin Brosowske) of Fergus Falls, MN; Dianne (John) Wilgen, of Oak Ridge, TN; Dave (Sherri) Burbank, of Alexandria, MN; Douglas (Sue) Lee, of Hanover, MN; Alane (Ken) Silver, of Pennsburg, PA; and Lynn (Michael Garcia) Burbank, of Sawyer, MN; and numerous great nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be on Thursday December 8, 2016; 11:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the West Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Hancock, MN.