Ruby Peterson

Ruby Josephine Peterson was born on July 17, 1912, in Granite Falls, MN, the daughter of Joseph and Martha Riley. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith in St. Andrew Catholic Church in Granite Falls and was a graduate of the first Granite Falls High School class of 1933.Ruby married the love of her life, Harland Peterson, on December 3, 1934 and this union was blessed with five children. Together they farmed near Granite Falls for 16 years. Harland then became an employee of Yellow Medicine County and Ruby held down numerous jobs in her lifetime, along with raising their family. Ruby loved God and her church. She sewed many quilts for Guatemala missions and always had beautiful flower gardens around her residence. She will be remembered most for her dedication to her church and God.Ruby was always smiling and loved to have fun. Every birthday in her later years she would do something different such as taking a hot air balloon ride with her daughter, Jet Ski and raft rides on the lake and had many rides on motorcycles. The faster she went, the more fun she had laughing and waving her hands. It nearly gave her children heart attacks when they watched her. In 2008, Ruby won a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle, of which she was so proud. On her last birthday, Ruby took a ride in her son's bright yellow ?57 Chevy. They rode up and down main street Granite Falls for all to see. Ruby could always be found helping out at church or roaming the countryside with Father Bill. She even wrote a book of her life with the help of her dear friend Marge Martin. She presented one to each of her children and grandchildren. The last three years of her life, her health failed and she moved to Maynard to live with her daughter and son-in-law. But Granite Falls was always her true home. Ruby passed away on December 3, 2013, from a persistent illness at the age of 101 years and five months. She was met by her husband Harland to celebrate their 79th wedding anniversary together and be reunited with their baby daughter, two grandsons, all of her family and many friends.Ruby is survived by her 4 children- LeRoy (& Jan) Peterson of Granite Falls, Dee Paul of Bloomington, Marti (& Arnie) Mohrman of Maynard, and David (& Kathy) Peterson of Granite Falls; 30 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren and 5 & ½ great great grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents; her beloved husband; several brothers & sisters; her baby daughter; two grandsons and one son-in-law. Blessed be Ruby's memory among us.