RUTH’s Obituary Ruth Emelia Brabec Ruth Emelia Brabec, 94, Willow River, died on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at the Mercy Hospital, Moose Lake. She was born January 12, 1925, to Paul E. Korpi and Sarah M. (Mack) Korpi in Pine Lake Township, Finlayson, Minnesota. Ruth attended the Elbow Lake School, District 62, through the eighth grade and graduated from Finlayson High School in 1943.
She was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Finlayson and became a member of that church. Right after high school, Ruth was employed at the Finlayson Post Office until March, 1947. On March 15, 1947, she married George Brabec of Bremen Township, Pine County, west of Willow River.
They moved to Hopkins, Minnesota, where George worked for Novy Brothers Construction Co Their three sons – Steve, Loren and Tom – were born during the nine years in Hopkins, when they were members of Gethsemane Lutheran Church. In 1956, George and Ruth bought the Brabec farm and moved to Bremen Township in August.
They became members of Faith Lutheran Church near Denham, where Ruth taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, served as Luther League Counselor and was active in the LCW, serving as its president for many years. She was also a farmer’s wife, helping with all the chores and with the task of raising the three boys. Ruth served on the Denham Co-op Store Board and also worked there for 2 years.
She was a coordinator for Lutheran Brotherhood (now Thrivent Financial) and, she and George were volunteers for the American Cancer Society for 10 years. In 1977, Ruth became a Home Health Aide/Homemaker and served in that capacity until 1992. Goerge and Ruth sold the farm in 1974 and moved west of Sturgeon Lake after purchasing the property owned by Hilma Christensen.
George became a resident of Mercy Health Care in Moose Lake in 2001, and in 2005, Ruth sold their home and moved in an apartment in Willow River. She remained active in church and the LCW at Faith Lutheran. Ruth is preceded in death by: her husband George; her parents; brothers Edward, Alvin, Niilo and Marlyn; sisters: Julie McKay, Celia Hildebrandt, Senia Laska, Lillie Schoerock and Alma Wichner.
Ruth greatly enjoyed her family and she is survived by: her brother Nestor Korpi (Edith) of St. Paul, MN; her sons: Steve (Ann) of Chandler, AZ, Loren (Rosemary) of Braham, MN, and Tom (Sissy) of Willow River, MN; grandchildren Corrie (Brad) Brabec, Lindy (Rich) Tannenbaum, Brenda (Cory) Briggs, Daniel (Sara) Brabec Jason (Jenna) Brabec and Allison (Joe) DeRungs; great-grandchildren Evan and Lyla Tannenbaum, Ben, Ellie and Nicholas Brabec, Charlie and Lark DeRungs, and Augustus Briggs; sisters-in-law Delores (Bernie) Karulak of Cloquet, MN, Dode Brabec of Braham, MN, Lucille Korpi of Hopkins, MN, and Marian Voit of Finlayson, MN; special friend, Gladys Sundquist; many nieces and nephews, extended family, and close friends. Visitation will be from 9:30 am until the 11 AM Funeral Service on Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Faith Lutheran Church, Sturgeon Lake. Arrangements by Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home in Moose Lake.
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