Rueben Hasselberg

Rueben D. Hasselberg, 90, of Staples, MN died on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at Lakewood Care Center in Staples, MN. Services for Rueben will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Staples United Methodist Church in Staples, MN with Pastor Greg Ciesluk officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services.

Rueben David Benjamin Hasselberg was born to Swedish immigrants, John and Hulda Hasselberg on March 23, 1923 on the shores of Lake Francis in rural South Haven, MN. He was raised there on the farm and attended country school on a hill overlooking the lake and later attended high school at Annandale, MN. After high school, Rueben served in the United States Army Air Force from November 1942 until his honorable discharge in July of 1944. Rueben married Phyllis Anita Forthman from Missouri and moved to Staples where he and Phyllis settled and raised three sons, David, Glen and Joe. During this time Rueben worked as an accountant at Tyrell's before being employed as a car salesman at Scharff Chevrolet. Later, he owned and operated a Skelly garage and gas station. Finally he went to work as the school custodian at Lincoln Elementary before becoming head custodian at the newly built North Elementary School from where he eventually retired. During those years, he supplemented his income by driving school bus and cleaning at "the bank"…the only bank in town, now called First Integrity. In 1978 Rueben married Georgia Matthews in Illinois. In his retirement years, he enjoyed attending auctions and accumulating "inventory" for his garage sales and his antique stall in the Batcher's building. Rueben had a strong faith, which he shared by teaching Sunday school and participating in his adult Bible study group. His final years were spent joyfully and comfortably at Lakewood Care Center in Staples, MN.

Rueben is survived by three sons, David (Sandy) of Lakeville, MN, Glen (Becky) of Staples, MN, Joe (Barb) of Motley, MN; five grandchildren, Derek (Marianne) of Princeton, MN, Heather Erholtz of Staples, MN, Dana (Greg) Kaiser of Brainerd, MN, Mary (Tuff) Harris of Billings, MT, and Cydney Hasselberg of Fargo, ND; seven great grandchildren (with two more arriving this July); two step-children, Jackie (Howard) Rickert of Trenton, IL and Jan (Edward) Harris of Jeffersonville, IN. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Hulda; one brother, Arthur; five sisters, Signhild, Vivian, Hildur, Edith and Ruby; his first wife, Phyllis Forthman; second wife, Georgia Matthews; niece, Kathleen and one grandchild, Angel.
Go with God. We love you and we will miss you, Dad, grandpa, great grandpa and friend. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples, MN.