Ruth Christiansen

Ruth Eleanor Christiansen, age 91, of Hager City, Wisconsin, passed away on January 23, 2021, while at home in hospice care, surrounded by family.

Ruth was born July 28, 1929, to James Clifton and Nell (Stanchfield) Van Alstine. She went on to graduate high school from Maplewood Academy in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and earn a teaching degree from Andrew’s University in Michigan. Ruth met her husband and the love of her life, Perry Christiansen, in 1953, and they wed on May 26, 1954.Ruth and Perry celebrated 66 years of marriage together and raised five children while they co-ran the Christiansen family dairy farm. Ruth was the at-home electrician, cook, tailor, and gardener while Perry worked in fields during the day. She was frequently the one who brought the cake for graduation parties and weddings.

Ruth faithfully served God and helped build the Red Wing Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Red Wing, Minnesota. She served as church treasurer for nearly 50 years. Her hobbies included bowling, art, playing weekly cards with friends, putting together puzzles, and bird watching from her kitchen window. She was a faithful member of the Red Wing YMCA, where she took water aerobics classes for decades. She will be remembered as the family matriarch whose strength and independence were a source of inspiration to those around her.

She is survived by her husband, Perry; five children, Keith (Barb) Christiansen, Peter Christiansen, Conrad (Mette) Christiansen, Beth (Frank) Branscombe, and Steve Christiansen; twelve grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and sister Frances Ratzlaff of Cottage Grove, MN. She was preceded in death by her brother, Oliver Van Alstine; daughter-in-law Andrea Christiansen; and grandchildren Micaiah and Abigail Christiansen.

Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Sunday, January 31, 2021, at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Red Wing.  The service will be live streamed on the Mahn Family Funeral Home’s Facebook page.  A walk-through visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, January 30, 2021,  at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.  Masks and social distancing are required at both events.  Instead of flowers, the family asks friends and loved ones to make donations in Ruth’s honor to Operation Smile, a charity organization close to Ruth’s heart. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Ruth's service is now streaming. You can find a link to her service just below her tribute video. It will redirect you to our Facebook page.