Julia H. Ruud, age 89 of Belgrade, died Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at the Belgrade Nursing Home.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3 ^rd at South Lake Johanna Lutheran Church in rural Brooten.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.  Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Brooten.

Julia Helen Ruud was born on March 19, 1926 in Arco, Minnesota, the daughter of Henry and Josephina (Hendrickson) Olson.  As a child, Julia and her family moved to a farm on Lake Johanna near Brooten.  She attended country school near Brooten and then started working for a neighboring farm family.  She attended South Lake Johanna Lutheran Church where she was confirmed and continued to be an active member; joining WELCA, making quilts for the missions and helping in the church kitchen.

On June 19, 1944 she was united in marriage to Roy Nobel Ruud in Brooten.  The couple made their home on a small farm in the Brooten/Sunburg area.  Julie enjoyed gardening and homemaking, as well as working for Willmar Produce where she was employed for almost twenty years.  She also enjoyed embroidering, crocheting, sewing and giving the beautiful items to family, friends and neighbors.

Julia and Roy shared 26 years of marriage before Roy passed away in 1970.  After Roy's death, Julie moved to the home of her brother-in-law, Clifford Freese, to help raise his five children after his wife passed away.  Julia embraced her new role helping raise the five children, preparing delicious meals, keeping house and demonstrating patience and love.  She will always be remembered for her kindness, generosity, strong work ethic, positive attitude and hearty laugh.

Julia is survived by her nieces and nephews whom she cared for like a mother, Robin (Steve Harms) Freese of Brooten; Clayton (Dana) Freese of Starbuck and their children: Cole, Benjamin, Rebbecca and Candace; Cornell Freese (Lisa Skare) of Brooten, Rosilyn (Dennis) Eickhoff of Belgrade and their children: Sarah and Abby; and Daniel Freese of San Diego, CA; brothers, Robert (Lois) Olson and John Olson both of Minneapolis; sisters, Josie Westrud of Lakeville and Inga Enstad of Anoka; and many other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roy; brothers, Elmer, Myron and Paul Olson and sisters, Dorothy Lansverk, Rose Vrolson and Regina Freese.