Eunice A. Ruff

Eunice A. Ruff, age 96, of Redwood Falls, MN, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Garnette Gardens in Redwood Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Redwood Falls, MN, with burial to follow in St. Patrick’s Birch Coulee Cemetery, rural Franklin, MN. Visitation will be held at 9:00 – 11:00 AM at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, with rosary at 9:00 AM. Live streamed: https://www.youtube.com/@LOWAFC/streams

The Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Service of Morgan and Redwood Falls are in charge of the arrangements. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com.

Eunice Ann (Reitter) Ruff was born on April 27, 1928, on the family farm near Morgan, Minnesota, to Alfred and Elsie (Estum) Reitter. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Morgan. She attended country school, moved on to Catholic grade school, and graduated from Morgan High School in 1946. Then, after secretarial training, she worked at the Engineering Department at the University of Minnesota, taking a streetcar to work each day.

On November 8, 1952, Eunice was united in Holy Matrimony to Jack Ruff at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Morgan. Jack and Eunice shared 59 years of marriage and were blessed with five children.

Eunice served at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Franklin as a religious education teacher, a member of the Altar and Rosary Society (later the Council of Catholic Women), and a tireless helper with church dinners, funerals, and other events. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, Birthday Club, coffee hour with friends, square dancing, travel (including multiple trips abroad), the occasional visit to Jackpot Junction, and daily and First Friday Mass. She played piano as a child and strongly encouraged her children to pursue piano, band, choir, swimming lessons, and especially higher education. Above all, she was an excellent cook, seamstress, baker, gardener (with lots of canning and freezing), homemaker, wife, and mother.

After 61 years on the family farm, she moved to Homestead and then Garnette Gardens in Redwood Falls. Eighteen days short of her 97th birthday, she passed away at Garnette Gardens, where she received excellent and loving care.

Eunice is survived by her five children John Ruff of Franklin, Mary Jo (Phil) Cole of Eden Prairie, Jeffrey Ruff of Franklin, Fr. Anthony (“Bill”) Ruff O.S.B. of Collegeville, and Caroline (Jeff) Hickethier of Cornell, Wisconsin; granddaughter Catherine Cole of Washington, D.C.; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Alfred and Elsie Reitter; her husband Jack Ruff; sisters Patsy (Roy) Ricke and Deanna (Bob) Olsen, and brother David (Pat) Reitter; and granddaughter Jane Hickethier.

She lived her life in the same way she faced her death, with faith, kindness, resolve, and gentleness.

May she rest in peace.