Ruth Gramstad Barfuss

   Ruth Gramstad Barfuss, 93, Winner Long Term Care, Winner, SD died Friday, December 27, 2024 at the Long Term Care. She was a previous 65 year resident of Leonard, ND.

   Ruth was born on August 31, 1931 to Leonard and Olga (Estenson) Gramstad in Climax, MN. She was baptized at her home on September 6, 1931, marking the beginning of a life filled with faith, family, and hard work.

   At the beginning of Ruth’s junior year in high school, she answered a newspaper ad to go to ND to work as a hired girl. Her employers took her to St. Peter Lutheran Church in rural Leonard where she was introduced to her future husband, Lawrence Barfuss. Ruth and Lawrence were married on November 12, 1950 at the home of Ruth’s Uncle Knute Gramstad in Climax, MN. Together, they embraced a life of farming, where Ruth worked alongside the men in the field, preparing meals, baking buns, and crafting her beloved caramel rolls. 

   She enjoyed the outdoors, had some large gardens, mowed lawns, and did tilling for friends after moving into Leonard. She provided child care to Mike and Vickie’s children, crocheted, and was a member of the ladies’ circle at St. Peter.

   Due to ill health, Ruth moved to Winner, SD in February 2014 between snow storms. The only belongings she took were what fit into Mike’s Yukon.

   Ruth and Lawrence had three children: Laurel Olson, Watford City, ND; Michael and Vickie (Heid) Barfuss, Winner, SD; and Lynn, deceased.

   Ruth adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Heidi Barfuss (Wes) Haney, Le Center, MN; Jon and Haley (Jorgensen) Barfuss, Winner, SD; Karl and Amanda (Sage) Barfuss, Jonesboro, AR. Jon’s children are Aiden, Lillian, and Lidia. Karl’s children are Lincoln, Norah, and Liam.

   Ruth was preceded in death by a son; husband; parents; and siblings Doris (Julian Morris) Hegland; Lemar and Vesta (Wertz); Glenn and Mercedes (Pratt) Gramstad.

Visitation: 5-7 PM Thursday, January 2, 2025 at the West Funeral Home in West Fargo, ND and 1 hour before the funeral service Friday, January 3, 2025 from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM at St. Peter Lutheran Church, rural Leonard, ND.

Funeral Service: Friday, January 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Peter Lutheran Church, rural Leonard, ND.

Interment: Friday, January 3, 2025 following the service at Watson Cemetery, rural Leonard, ND.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

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