Ruth Mckinney
October 9, 1928 — November 12, 2016
Ruth McKinney, 88, Brimson, died Saturday November 12, 2016 at home.
She was born October 9, 1928 to Hjalmar and Edla (Tammi) Simola in Duluth. But after a childhood accident Ruth was raised by her cousin and her husband, Sam and Ida Niemi. She was a lifelong resident of Brimson and spent 33 years as a Supervisor on the Ault Town Board.
She married Harry McKinney on October 29, 1948 in Duluth and had just celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. They made their home in Brimson, where she worked on the family farm and raised her children.
Ruth enjoyed working in her gardens, cooking and canning, going wild berry picking, bird watching, her cows, talking about the “old times”, and especially time with her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Wayne, Bill, and John Simola; and sister, Vieno Walkama.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Harry; her two daughters Shirley Radke of Makinen and Brenda (Steve) Schnurrer of Brimson; grandchildren, Annette (Gerald) Wilton and Heather (Joel) Wagner of Brookston, Shannon (Steve) Rohlman of Marionville, MO, Justin (Monica) Radke of Bovey, Joseph Schnurrer of Brimson, and Dave (Kayla) Schnurrer of Owatonna; ten great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Esther Ellingsen of Two Harbors; and numerous nieces and nephews.