Ruth Arline Hamdorf Obit

RUTH ARLINE HAMDORF,  99, of Deerwood, passed away on Jan. 4, 2022 at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby.  She was born on Dec. 26, 1922 to Gerd and Cora (Kief) Alfs.  She graduated from the Aitkin High School in 1941 and was employed as a secretary at Aitkin Skelgas and Western Union in Duluth as a Teletype Operator. In December of 1943 she married William A. Hamdorf.  They owned and operated a dairy farm west of Aitkin for 45 years.  She was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran in Aitkin in 1947.  In May of 1987 they sold the dairy farm and moved to Deerwood.  Her husband William passed away on May 7, 2011.  They were married for 68 years.  She then moved to the Indian Carry Apartment in November of 2011.  She enjoyed many friends there.  She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Iron Hub, where she enjoyed teaching Sunday School and helping with the Christmas Program.  She also enjoyed playing the violin and her chord organ, listening to country western music, her favorite singer was Elvis Presley. Her motto in life was thank God every day for what you have and love life. Preceding her in death are her parents, husband William, brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Diane Alfs and daughter-in-law, Julie Hamdorf. She is survived by five children and their spouses, Ladonna and Richard  Hejny of Ramona, CA;  Larry and Carolyn  Hamdorf of Aitkin; Bonnie and Randy Schwartzhoff of Hayward, WI; Duane Hamdorf of Togo and Bruce and Diane Hamdorf of Summerville, SC; 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Iron Hub.  Burial will be at the Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby.  A visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.   Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.