Ruth Rinke

Ruth Rinke passed away peacefully on December 14, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Society of Pine River at the age of 96 years. Ruth was born to Victor and Thilda Martin, of rural Hackensack, on December 7, 1915. She was raised on the family farm, on Birch Lake, with her two brothers, Vernon and Fred, and her sister June. She graduated from Hackensack High School in 1933.



After graduation, she worked for the Murray family of Minneapolis and Ten Mile Lake as a nanny/housekeeper. After working for the Murray's, Ruth worked in the kitchen at Charlie's Café Exceptionale, in Minneapolis.

During WWII, Ruth went with her sister, June, to California. June's husband, Gene Nygren, was in the Navy and was deployed from California. Ruth found work as a welder in the ship yards of Richmond, California. Ruth remained in California, after her sister returned to Minnesota. Ruth found work in the kitchen of the Top of the Mark, in San Francisco.



Ruth returned to Minnesota sometime between 1946-47. She met her husband, Guy Rinke, and they were married on February 14, 1948. They and their three children lived on a small farm in McKinley Township.

Ruth began working in the kitchen of Madden's Inn of Brainerd, in the mid 1960's. In 1974 her husband, Guy Rinke, passed away. In 1975, she sold the family farm and moved into a small house in Pine River, MN, where she lived until 2008. At this time, she began living with her daughter, Joanna Perry, in Pine River.



Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, and her husband.

Ruth is survived by her sister June Nygren, her son Victor Rinke (Karna), daughter Joanna Perry (Jim), son Edward Rinke. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Juliet (Perry) Stevens (Troy), Margit (Rinke) Higgens (Steve), Janis Perry, and Hans Rinke (Heather); five great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.



Services will be 2 PM Saturday, December 17, at Bethlehem Lutheran of McKinley Township, Backus, MN. Burial will follow in Bethlehem Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 PM at Kline Funeral Home, Pine River, and one hour prior to services at the church.