Florence Rueter

FLORENCE M. RUETER Florence was born in Dalbo Township, Minnesota on September 24, 1927, the daughter of Victor and Signe (Sundberg) Peterson. Later, Florence and her family moved to a farm near Malmo, MN. She graduated from Aitkin High School and then moved to Minneapolis, MN where she worked as an AT&T telephone operator. While living in Minneapolis, Florence met her future husband, Ray Rueter. They were united in marriage on December 27, 1952. To this union three children were born, Karen, Martha, and Joseph. In 1952, Florence and Ray moved to Alexandria where they joined First Lutheran Church and Florence began working as a telephone operator for the Alexandria Telephone Company. She worked as a telephone operator for more than 20 years, taking a break to raise her children and numerous family pets. Florence enjoyed painting, watching Twins games, and working outdoors in her flower gardens. She loved to mow the lawn using her riding lawn mower. In recent years, she particularly enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Florence was a prayerful and considerate woman always thinking about others before herself. She will be greatly missed by those who loved and knew her. Florence May Rueter died on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at Knute Nelson in Alexandria at the age of 81 years. She is survived by her daughters Karen (Tom Mattsen) Block of Morris, MN; Martha (Jolene Nelson) Rueter of Lindstrom, MN; son Joseph Rueter; grandchildren Sarah (Rodney) Jobe of Alexandria, MN; Isaac (Amanda) Block of Maplewood, MN; great grandchildren Paige, Abey, and Jasmine Block all of Alexandria, MN; sister Francis Berge of Aitkin, MN; brother George (Lucille) Peterson of Aitkin, MN; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, and sisters. A funeral service was held on Monday, April 27, 2009, at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria with the Reverend Greg Billberg officiating. Randy Morken played the organ and Karen Gladen was the soloist. . Inurnment will be in the Geneva Cemetery later in the summer.