Ruth Eisele Downey

Downey, Ruth Eisele February 19, 1920 January 22, 2017 Richfield native Ruth Downey, 96, joined the Communion of Saints after a long battle with Alzheimers disease. She is survived by daughter, Cheryl Downey and grandchildren, Christopher and Ariel Band-asch of CA, sister Esther Anderson now in CT, and many nieces and nephews. A service honoring her life will be held at Richfield Lutheran Church later this year. Ruth, her 6 siblings and her parents were life-long members of RLC. Gifts to the church in Ruth's memory will be much appreciated. A Washburn High graduate in the Depression, Ruth used her stenographer skills to begin 42 years of employment at Lutheran Brotherhood Life Insurance Company, where she rose from secretary to librarian to manager. A war bride and then a single mom, she raised her only child, Cheryl in the Eisele home on Lyndale. Ruth loved traveling the world with her 4 sisters or working as an extra in films Cheryl was making. But even her beloved grandchildren were unable to persuade her to spend winters in Santa Monica, as she had planted her roots firmly with her sisters and a multitude of good friends in Minneapolis, including many in PEO. A generous and proud Mother and Grandmother, she was also a loyal, reciprocal Friend, a singularly strong Woman and an elegant Lady.

Published on February 19, 2017