Ruby May Bruggeman, 85, died on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, at Sanford Medical Center in Thief River Falls, MN, surrounded by her loving family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, October 30, 2010, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks, MN, with Father Dave Super presiding. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Brooks, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Friday, October 29, 2010, at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 9:30 AM until the time of Mass on Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Ruby May Kortum was born on July 13, 1925, in Bloomfield, NE, the daughter of August and Anna (Berner) Kortum. The family moved to Lincoln, NE, in 1942 where Ruby worked in the Cornhusker Hotel Coffee Shop as a waitress. She graduated from high school in Lincoln, NE, on June 4, 1943. Ruby moved to New Orleans, LA, and worked for a short time, then returned to Lincoln, NE, where she worked in the Motor Vehicle Division at the State Capital.

Ruby met her future husband, Lloyde B. Bruggeman at a Leap Years Dance. The couple was married on November 29, 1944, and they made their home in Brooks, MN.

In 1945, Ruby worked at the George Peters Grocery Store as clerk and bookkeeper in Thief River Falls, MN. In the 1960s she worked for the Hamrum Tax Service in Brooks, MN; at the Win-E-Mac Motel in Erskine, MN, from 1972 until 1974; at Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home in Erskine, MN, from 1974 until 1977; at the Riverview Nursing Home, where she started the adult daycare program, in Crookston, MN from 1978 until her retirement. After retiring, she made her home in Brooks and later in Thief River Falls, MN.

Ruby enjoyed following baseball and football, especially the Minnesota Vikings and Nebraska Cornhuskers; she also enjoyed crocheting, knitting, quilting and numerous other hand crafts.

Survivors include three children, Margo J. (Carl R.) Thiede of Lancaster, WI, Nancy K. (Rolfe) Ericson of Lake George, MN, and Rebecca L. (Kevin) Tranby of West Fargo, ND; daughter-in-law, Mary Bruggeman of Thief River Falls; 16 grandchildren, Robert, Chris (fiance Jess), Paul (Elise), Joanna (fianc Corey), Therese (Kailen) Collette, Laura, Rachel (fianc Dustin), Eva, and April Bruggeman; Michael (Stephanie) Thiede; Katrina (Chris) Robinson, Carissa Ericson; Kari (special friend Dan) Tranby, Erin (Ryan) Schmitz, and Ryan (Nicole) Tranby; 8 great-grandchildren, Norah Collette, Zoe Bruggeman, Sydney and Will Thiede, Alana Ericson, Carter and Eli Robinson, and Zachary Schmitz; sister, Alma Pettigrew; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Lloyde in 1977; daughter Peggy in 1962; granddaughter Cara Lisa in 1973; sons Daniel in 1995 and Steven in 2000; and brothers Lawrence and Bob.

Online family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com