Ruth LaValley

Ruth Margaret LaValley, age 89, of St. Anthony Village, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. She was born September 23, 1930, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the daughter of Melvin and Lila Dybdal. She was raised on a farm near Wendell, MN with her parents and 2 sisters, LaDonna and Helen, and one brother, Kermith Dybdal.

On September 23, 1950, Ruth married Gordon LaValley at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls, MN. Together they raised 11 children and were members of St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in St Anthony Village for the past 50 years.

She is survived by her husband of 69+ years, Gordon; their children:
Renee (Peter) Dubay, Gary (Brenda), Dan, Pamela (Steve) Christen, Scott (Connie), Patrick (Claudia), Tracy (Tim) Balko, Michelle (Dan) Turgeon, Eva (Brian) Marquis and Parnell (Rachel);  a sister, Helen (Loren) Knutson. They have also been blessed with 37 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Lila (Larson) Dybdal, sister LaDonna (Jim) Rivet, her brother Kermith and sister-in-law Elaine; a son, William LaValley; 2 grandchildren, Robert Christen and Joshua LaValley.

Ruth loved to play the piano and enjoyed listening to a variety of music. She loved to sew, decorate and make stained glass lamps.She was a homemaker for most of her adult life. She loved spending time with Gordon at their Star Lake cabin and their winter retreat in Apache Junction, AZ. 

Visitation is Thursday, December 26, 2019, from 4-7pm at the Billman Hunt Funeral Home. Rosary and Prayer Service will be at 6:30pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, Dec 27, 2019 at 11 am at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in St Anthony Village, MN with reviewal at 10 am.

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