Ruth Geraldine Austad of Angle Inlet, and formerly Thief River Falls, MN, went home to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 14, 2023, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Cloquet, MN, at the age of 94 years.

A Memorial Service to honor Ruth will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN.  Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery, rural St. Hilaire, MN.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the memorial service on Saturday at Johnson Funeral Service.

Ruth Geraldine Sorenson was born on January 22, 1929, in Crookston, MN, the oldest of two daughters born to Rev. P.C. Sorenson and Lillian V. (Hansen) Sorenson.

Ruth graduated from Fargo Central in 1947. She attended Northwestern Bible College in the Twin Cities when Billy Graham was its president. Ruth graduated from Moorhead State University with a degree in Elementary Education in 1952.

During her teens and twenties, she spent her summers as a counselor at her parent's American Missionary Fellowship's Camp Joy. She also traveled with her family to newly established churches and Sunday schools in ND and MN sharing the Gospel through flannel-graph stories and programs.

Ruth married Donald Bernhardson in 1955. Two children: Mark and Linda were born to them. She married Ray Austad in 1980.

Her love for children set her career in teaching. She taught school in Warren, Karlstad, Goodridge, but for most of her career in Thief River Falls. She retired in 1985 after teaching second grade at Washington Elementary for 20 years.

Ruth was a member of the Evangelical Free Church, Retired Teachers, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the VFW Auxiliary. Her hobbies included writing Bible-based poetry, playing piano, crocheting doilies, working in her flower garden, and boating and snowmobiling at the Northwest Angle.  One could frequently find Ray and Ruth out on the town enjoying breakfast together, one of their favorite pastimes.  Ruth will be remembered for her beautiful smile and contagious laugh.

Ruth is survived by her son Mark (Deb) Bernhardson, Cloquet, MN; daughter Linda (Ron) LaMie, Angle Inlet, MN; and step-daughter Dawn (Jeff) Benke, Middle River, MN. Left to miss their G'ma Ruth are Jamie, Joshua, Janessa, Jacob, Amanda, Erica, T.J., Kya, Jessica, Adam, Ashley, and 15 great- grandchildren. Ruth is also survived by her sister Esther (Al) Dahlgren, Ft. Myers, FL, a nephew, nieces, and many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ray Austad; her son-in-law Tom Kastl; and her parents Rev. P.C. and Lillian Sorenson.