Obituary: Ruth Christoffersen O’Brien
Ruth (Chris) O’Brien, 76, passed away peacefully April 27,br2021, at her son and daughter-in-law, Don and Heather O’Brien’s home in Sandstone,brMinnesota, after a courageous two-year battle with cancer.
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Born January 12, 1945 to Eivind and Dorothy (Olander)brChristoffersen, in Medford, Wisconsin, Ruth was baptized Ruth Marie at thebrFirst Lutheran Church in Ogema. At the age of six, the family moved to Osage,brIowa. She was confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran.
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Due to the fact there was another “Ruth” in her class, herbrclassmates began calling her “Chris,” a nickname that became “her name” frombrthat time forward. Chris graduated from Osage High School in 1963 and from thebrUniversity of Iowa in 1967, majoring in psychology.
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She accepted a position with Lutheran Brotherhood servicesbrin Minneapolis where she met the love of her life, Don O’Brien, a Viet Nambrveteran. They were married in the historical Fort Snelling Chapel on Septemberbr8, 1972. They became parents of Kelly Jo and Don Patrick. Tragedy struckbrSeptember 1st, 1981, when Chris’ husband was fatally injured in anbrultra-light airplane accident, leaving Chris a widow with Kelly inbrkindergarten, Don a preschooler.
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Chris served as office administrator for several differentbrschool districts in Pine County during her career and near the end of herbrworking years, served as an editor for the Askov American newspaper in Askov.brIn retirement, she directed her creative energies to beading, knitting, andbrmost importantly Hardanger lace. Her work was meticulous and she was mostbrgenerous, gifting treasured ornaments, bookmarks, and beaded purses tobrrelatives and friends. She loved playing a competitive game of Rummy Cube withbrher friend Sue Boylan.
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But what Chris treasured most was family— holidays withbrDon, Heather and grands, spending vacation time in Florida with Kelly, andbrkeeping close touch with her siblings.
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Surviving Chris are her children, Don (Heather), grandsonsbrKolten and Korben, Sandstone; Kelly, Deltona, FL; brothers John (Mary)brChristoffersen, Gainesville, FL, and Carl (Doris) Christoffersen, Edina, MN,brsister Carol (Paul) Anderson, Saint Ansgar, IA, and sister-in-law, Carol EllenbrChristoffersen, Palm Desert, CA; nieces Karla Sovereign, Li Christoffersen,brLynn Kong, Annie Christoffersen, Kari Anderson, and Lori Jungck; nephews PaulbrKutzik, Mark, John, and Steven Christoffersen, and Jonathan Anderson.
Preceding Chris in death were her husband Don, parentsbrEivind and Dorothy Christoffersen, in-laws, Don Jr., and Betty O’Brien,brbrothers Paul and Arthur Christoffersen, sister Miriam Kutzik, nephewbrChristopher Anderson.
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Chris’ wishes were to be cremated and to be interred atbrFort Snelling National Cemetery next to her husband, date to be announced.brMemorials may be directed to Don O’Brien at 59585 State Hwy 23, Sandstone, MNbr55072 and will be donated to Hospice and/or cancer care unless otherwisebrindicated.
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