Ruth M Russell

life story

A loving Mother and devoted Wife, Grandmother and GG

Celebration of Life for both Ruth and Doug at Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Information below.

Celebration of Life of Ruth and Doug

Ruth Selina (Marchant) Russell of Brooklyn Park, MN age 87, passed away after a battle with cancer, kidney disease and a brain tumor on October 8th, 2024 surrounded by her loving husband and family.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Louise Marchant, her brother in law Alan Winterhalter, Sister in law Kelly Marchant.

Ruth is survived by Doug, her husband of 64 years. Their 3 children: Marcia (Russell) Huyck / Kevin Hoppe, David Russell/ Becky, Steven Russell/Sue. Many grandchildren and many great grandkids. Also her brother Charles Marchant/ Barb, and sister Kittie Winterhalter.

Ruth was born September 15th, 1937 in New Haven, Conn. Her parents were Edward Thomas Bradley Marchant and Louise (Clark) Marchant. She was the second of three children; her older sister Kittie Louise (Marchant) Winterhalter and younger brother Charles E Marchant. They lived in New Haven until just after Ruth graduated they built a home “around the Green” next to Louise’s Clark family Farm in Orange, Connecticut

Ruth went to school in West Haven from K-12. Enjoying swimming, softball, and waterskiing. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, as was her mother and her father was a 33-degree mason. From there, after graduation she went on to nursing school at New Britain General Hospital for 3 years and completed her boards then followed 2 years of working at the VA hospital. As she said, I was working hard to save money to get married. She made many friends and went to her nurses class reunions many times.

She met the love of her life, Douglas E Russell when she was 13 and he was 15, as the story goes at Cedar Crest Park & swimming pond in Orange, conn. Their Friendship and Love blossomed. Time went by, they grew closer and knew Doug was going to be her one and only. After high school, they decided higher learning should come first before marriage and off they went. Her to New Britain General and Doug to Bullard Havens Tech in Bridgeport Conn. for 2 years for electrical engineering followed by a year at the American Television Institute in Chicago IL. Doug returned home, was hired by the NSA, and served in the Air force.

Ruth and Doug returned home to Orange were married June 11, 1960 at the Orange Congregational church across the Green from her parents’ home.

Doug’s job with the NSA gave him an opportunity to move to MN with a budding new computer company, Control Data so after the wedding they headed west to Brooklyn Park MN.

Ruth took her RN degree and went to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, MN where she was a well-loved Nurse for over 35 plus years. She loved neo-natal, was a regular in ICU and CCU. She even was put on special assignment with a small crew of nurses when Senator Hubert Humphry was ill.

The Brooklyn Park home was short lived and they moved to Moundsview and had a home built for them. More bedrooms needed as the kids arrived: Marcia and then David. There were many parties, get togethers and lots of life long friends were made on that street. They stayed until 1969 when Doug was sent to Sunnyvale, CA for a new high tech computer program. So, again, they packed up and headed west.

Ruth used her nurses training again and Doug was deep into the high stakes computer revolution. While in Sunnyvale there were 7 other families from CDC that went as well. It was a great community, the crew went camping many weekends together. Ruggles, Robles, Russells, Beaches, Biems, Lewis’ and Stoffels. Ruth packed the new little camping trailer and off they went just about every weekend they could.

In 1970 Younger brother Steve arrived. And as Ruth always said “new house, New baby”. Ruth and Doug were there until 1971 and with the CDC project completed for him, back east to MN they went. This time to Minnetonka for a short rental while another house was built in Corcoran. Their friend Vern Sinderson, who built their first home, built this one as well. They would stay in this house for next 39 years.

Summers were never boring, a Winnebago was purchased in 1972 and off they would go. 3 kids and a black lab named skipper. It was a tradition for many years to leave for 2 to 3 weeks after school got out and go east to see their parents, brothers, sisters and their families. Trips to Canada fishing with friends, Remer to go snowmobiling and many other places. When the Bus was being packed, the dog would hide under the table and not move in fear of being left behind.

Ruth was a regular in the local Corcoran Card club group for many years.

Time marched on and after much debate and searching; in 1984, a trailer on a lot was purchased on a lake that was very well known to them. Fish lake. Many years of the “Winnie Bus” going to Trefethen’s place over the 4th of July cemented the deal. Again, their friend Vern was the orchestrator of the first garage build at the lake.

Doug retired from CDC, and Ruth retired from nursing, Marcia got married, Dave got married, Steve got married. Grandkids started arriving. Space was a premium so in 1997, new cabin design was agreed upon and plans were drawn. Lots of hard work and it turned out great.

In 2011 the Corcoran home was sold, and coming full circle, they moved to a new townhome they had built in Brooklyn Park where it all began.

Ruth and Doug were at the cabin every spring, summer and fall, up until she fell ill and dialysis started. Even then, she pushed through finding a dialysis center near the cabin so they did not have to drive home. She enjoyed the summer of 2024 before her passing.

Ruth and Doug loved going to Florida in the winter. Up in the panhandle for 18 years just outside of Destin/Fort Walton area. Lots of friends, food and good times were had there as well. Sister Kittie and husband Alan had a place and Brother Charlie would often come and stay.

She always was willing to lend a hand. She loved the garden and would make a ton of pickles every year. She especially loved turtles and often joked she would come back as one. She was a good Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. Loved by all, she will be greatly missed.

memorial service

Celebration of Life

May 22, 2026

Lord of Life Lutheran Church (ELCA) 7401 County Rd 101, Maple Grove, MN 55311, USA

We are doing a celebration of life for both Ruth and Doug.

Please contact Dave for more details.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services