Ruth A. Gremmels, 83, died July 1, 2015 at her home in rural Glenwood after a long battle with cancer that she faced with a courage we could only hope to emulate.  Her funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7 at Indherred Lutheran Church in rural Starbuck with Pastor Paul J. Johnson officiating. Inurnment will immediately follow the service at the Indherred cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood and will resume at the church, one hour prior to the service.  Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Ruth Gremmels was born on September 29, 1931, in Presho, SD to parents Peter and Marguerete (Grevstad) Troen. The daughter of a Lutheran pastor, her family followed their father where he was called and she grew up in Presho and Baltic, SD, before moving to Minot, ND for her senior year in high school. She graduated from Minot High School in 1949. She then pursued an Education degree by attending Augustana College in Sioux Falls, where she met her husband, James Gremmels.

The couple was married on August 22, 1952 at the First Lutheran Church in Minot. They were married 57 years until James’ death in 2009. The couple moved to Glenwood in 1955 when James was hired by Glenwood High School as an English teacher and coach. They raised three sons in the Glenwood area, Todd, Peter and Paul.

She finished her education degree in 1965 at the University of Minnesota-Morris (UMM) and began teaching at Norgaard Elementary School in 1967. She taught at this Glenwood school until she retired in 1994, finishing a 27-year teaching career.

Ruth was the definition of a matriarch. Giving solid care and guidance to her family and also to friends and those in need. She was a Christian woman who held to her beliefs with a quiet and steadfast demeanor. One of her greatest joys was teaching and there are countless students who benefited from her skills as an educator. Ruth did not teach the best and the brightest. No, she taught students with learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Teaching them the basics of mathematics, reading and writing. Teaching them that anything in this life is possible if you learn these basic skills and work hard and long. Even on the week of her passing, former students were reaching out, thanking her for all that she had done for them and crediting her for all the successes they had achieved in their own lives.

Ruth will be greatly missed, but her spirit lives on in the many people she touched throughout her life. She would want us not to spend too much time grieving, but to move on with our lives and to live them being helpful and kind to others. As she was fond of saying, “Remember what I taught you.” 

Ruth is survived by her brother, Luther Troen, 90 of Durango, Co; her three sons, Todd (Deborah) Gremmels of Duluth, Peter (Marilyn) Gremmels of Glenwood and Paul (Ann) Gremmels also of Glenwood. Six grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Peter and Marguerete Troen and her husband James Gremmels.

Memorials may be directed to Indherred Lutheran Church, P O Box 220, Starbuck, MN 56381.

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