Ruth Mary Brunsell

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Brunsell, Ruth Mary age 88, of Brooklyn Center, entered her new life on April 21, 2015. She was born in Minneapolis on April 9, 1927, the daughter of Thomas and Olive Rother. She was the third born of seven children and attended Robbinsdale High School where she developed many lifelong friends. She married Bill Howe and raised four sons while active as a farm wife, church and community volunteer. During her sons' high school years, she was a huge fan of their sports activities, mostly wrestling, cheering loudly for the home team. She volunteered for United Way for 22 years and served as Area Chairperson. She was the Chairman of Information and Publicity for the Twin Cities Christian Hot Line; the President of many school PTAs; a member of the Board of Brooklyn Center Methodist Church; and while living in California, was honored as the "Volunteer of the Year" of Palm Springs for the American Cancer Society. In her second marriage, to Reverend George Head, she served as a pastor's wife in southern Minnesota and upstate New York. While in Wells, Minnesota she launched a successful Christian gift and bookstore called Natural & Unique. After her second husband's untimely death in 1994 after eighteen years of marriage, she married Willis Brunsell in 1997. With Willis, a long time high school friend, they settled in California. Willis passed away in 2009 after twelve years of marriage and she moved back to Minnesota. The highest priority in her life, she would say, was to raise her four sons, of whom she was most proud. Ruth Mary enjoyed music, singing, writing poetry and socializing with friends and family. Ruth Mary lived a busy, productive and rewarding life, with a passion for her friends and family. The touchstone of her life was love and Christian faith. Preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Olive Rother; brothers; Tom Rother, Keith Rother, Ted Rother and George Rother; husbands, Bill Howe, George Head and Willis Brunsell. Survived by children: Keith (Stephanie) Howe, Mike (Nancy) Howe, Tom (Karen) Howe, and Doug (Reva) Howe; 9 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Melissa (Rother) Mantiq, brother, David Rother. Funeral service 11:00 AM Tuesday, April 28, at Brooklyn United Methodist Church 7200 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center 55429. Visitation 1 hour prior to service at CHURCH. If so desired, memorials may be given to the Brooklyn United Methodist Church or American Cancer Society. Washburn-McReavy.com Glen Haven Chapel 763-533-8643

Published on April 26, 2015