Ruby Toussaint, 1927-2016

Published 10:00 am Sunday, May 1, 2016

Ruby Eleanor Toussaint, 88, of Worthington died Wednesday, April 27, 2016, at Madonna Meadows Assisted Living Facility in Rochester.

Memorial services were at 11 a.m. Saturday at Worthington Christian Church. The Rev. Doug White officiated. A private family burial took place prior to the service in Worthington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Ruby Toussaint

Ruby was born July 14, 1927, to Arthur and Anna Brenne Anderson on her parents’ farm in Heron Lake Township. She grew up in Lakefield and attended public school, where she graduated in 1945. She worked as a soda jerk at Payne’s Pharmacy in Lakefield during high school and then moved to Worthington, where she worked at State Bank until her marriage. She married Kenny Toussaint on March 19, 1948, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield.

The couple farmed in Worthington and Dewald Township for 35 years. Ruby retired in 1981 after working in the Nobles County Assessor’s office for more than 20 years. Ruby was a member of Worthington Christian Church and past treasurer of the Bible school for many years. She volunteered at Crippled Children’s School, The Achievement Center and Worthington Hospital Auxiliary.

Ruby’s favorite pastimes included jigsaw and word search puzzles as well as exercising on the NuStep bike. She was an avid sports fan of the Minnesota Twins, Vikings and Gophers. Ruby resided at Ecumen Meadows in Worthington and most recently at Madonna Meadows in Rochester.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Kenny, who died in August 2012. Kenny and Ruby had six children, Linda (Ken) Wadum, of Rochester, Marsha (Kendall) Langseth, of Albert Lea, Doug (Liz) Toussaint, of Wahpeton, North Dakota, Barb (Andy) Spencer, of Marion, Iowa, and Dean (Lisa) Toussaint, of Chandler, Arizona. Daughter, Pam (Craig Ebeling), died in March 1989. Craig (Jan) Ebeling also survive. Surviving siblings include Violet Schmidt of Spencer, Iowa, Ardyce Reuter of Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Vern (Iva) Anderson of Rochester.

Surviving grandchildren include Lance Wadum and Sara Douglas, Melissa Christianson, Libby Amsden and Becky Konrade, Ian Perkins and Michaela Olson, Micah, Noah and Levi Langseth, Nick Toussaint, Laura Herrick and Brad Toussaint, Amanda Maher and Emily Spencer, Angie Trejo and Alisha Whatcott. Great-grandchildren include Mason and Jack, Ahna and Emmy, Jack, Brook and Emmy, Hailey and Brady, Stanley and Garrett, Collin, Shawn and Drew, Brooklyn, Elizabeth and Lily, Wesley, Joey, Julissa and Dylan, Mackenzie, Kendall and Jaxson and Whitney, Paisley and Adelyn.

Ruby was preceded in death by parents Arthur and Anna Anderson and siblings Annabelle Anderson, Adelaide Erickson, Evelyn Hattendorf and Agnes Schmidt.

Memorials may be directed to Seasons Hospice in Rochester, Worthington Christian Church Food Pantry or 29th Street Mission Food Pantry in Marion.

Benson Funeral Home in Worthington was in charge of the arrangements.