Ruth Knox

Ruth Boynton Knox, known by family and friends as Grandma Ruth, age 96, of Pine River, MN, and formerly Webster City, IA, received her last and final change of address as she was escorted to her heavenly home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, November 20, 2023.

Ruth was the daughter of Leland Boynton and Mary (Nelson, Boynton) Stromgren. She was born November 8, 1927, in Webster City, IA. Ruth attended country school in Hamilton County and graduated from Webster City High School in 1946. She attended the University of Iowa for 2 years.

Ruth married Harry Knox on December 14, 1952, in Webster City. They were married for 60 years. She was employed at the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office for many years. Ruth enjoyed riding her motorcycle, camping, target shooting, fishing, reading, crocheting and traveling. She also enjoyed spending vacations and summers in northern Minnesota at their cabin near Pine River, MN, where she resided full time from 2009 to 2021. There she enjoyed riding her four-wheeler and lawn mower, gardening and watching the birds. In February of 2021, Ruth moved to the Riverside Senior Living Apartments in Pine River where she lived until June of 2022. At that time, she decided to move to Shiloh Assisted Living in Pequot Lakes, MN, where she lived until her death.

Ruth was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church of Webster City, where she was a deaconess, served on many committees and taught Sunday School for many years. She also served as secretary of the Mid-America Baptist Church and enjoyed providing crafts for many children at summer Bible camps. While in her country home, she attended and taught Sunday School at the Blind Lake Tabernacle in rural Pine River. Later Ruth attended Riverview Church in Pine River where she was involved in the ladies Bible study, senior adult activities and became known as “Riverview’s official hugger”.

Ruth is survived by her “adopted kids and grandkids”: Lee and Sharon Lanz of Pine River, MN, Nathaniel (Stacy) Lanz, Ben and Logan of Billings, MT, Skyler Lanz of Inver Grove Heights, MN, Summer (Joshua) Daniels, Ezra, Lucy, Chad and Jude of Columbus, MT, Jedediah (Heidi) Lanz and Poppy of Billings, MT; and many, many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harry; two infant brothers, Elmer Lewis and Donald LeRoy; and adopted great grandson, Titus Daniels.

Our special thank you goes out to the staff of Shiloh Assisted Living and St. Croix Hospice for their loving care.

A graveside service was at Graceland Cemetery in Webster City, IA. A memorial service will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, December 16, at Riverview Church, Pine River, MN.