Ruth Bernadine Lunquist

Ruth Bernadine Lunquist of Brooklyn Center, MN was born on April 23, 1926, and passed away in peace June 11, 2026. She celebrated her 100th birthday with her daughters and their families this spring with smiles, singing and root beer floats.

Ruth was preceeded in death by her husband John Lunquist, her daughter Mary-Jo Tome, son in law Steve Tome, sister and sisters in law, her brothers and brothers in law, two nieces, two nephews and many friends and neighbors. She is survived by her daughters Renee Martin (Rick) of Brooklyn Park, and Jenny Lachance (Bruce) of Champlin, 6 Grandchildren, 12 Great Grandchildren and 4 Great great Grandchildren.

Ruth was born in Ashland, WI and was the youngest of 4 children. The family moved to Minneapolis when she was 2 years old. Her dad was a carpenter and cabinet maker, and her mom was a schoolteacher and seamstress. In 1940 she attended Edison High School and graduated from there in 1944. In the fall of 1946, she met her husband John while they were both singing in the church choir at Emanuel Lutheran Church. They wed in 1948 and were married for 50 years. They moved from Northeast Minneapolis with their 3 girls to their Brooklyn Center home in 1959 where Ruth lived until 2024.

Ruth worked at Fanny Farmer Candies right after High School and then attended the University of Minnesota for about a year. She eventually took a job at Northwestern National life Insurance Company (NWNL) in the Correspondence Department. She had to leave that job once she was 6 months pregnant in 1953, eventually returned as a switchboard operator in 1968 to officially retire in 1987, but ended up working part-time until she was 80.

In the sixties Ruth was an active member of the League of Women's Voters in Brooklyn Center. She consistently displayed a "Vote Today" sign in her yard every election day. She was certified as a tutor and volunteered to teach reading and writing skills to illiterate and immigrant adults that lived in the area. She and John both enjoyed reading stories to kindergarten and first grade classes at Palmer Lake Elementary School. Ruth was a member of and volunteered at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Center. She sang in the choir, worked as a council member multiple times, taught Sunday School and served snacks at Vacation Bible Schools. She served luncheons with the Funeral Committee and for several years helped with their Garage Sale.
 
Ruth was most proud to be the President of the Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP} Quilters group for about 15 years. She enjoyed the fellowship of the women there and loved knowing their work was appreciated by all sorts of people in need that live in the north metro. She was recognized several times by city officials and local media for her impressive community engagement.

She was always proud of her neighborhood and was a friend to all her neighbors. She and John hosted multiple National Night Out parties over the years. Ruth was famous for baking triple batches of cookies to deliver to her family and neighbors "just because". Ruth was that person.

She loved her family, music, sewing, and reading. She was a kind, positive, grateful person who was creative, curious, sincere and loving. Her happy spirit will be missed, but her love light and legacy will go on forever. 

Her daughters Renee and Jenny note that they are grateful for the loving and caring community provided at Amira Choice her during her tenancy there. 

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 11-1PM at Evans-Nordby Funeral Home, 6000 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center, MN 55429 with a service held at 12PM.

If so desired, memorials can be given to CEAP https://www.ceap.org/donate-overview/