Ruth Cheney

Ruth F. Cheney, age 81, of Sauk Centre died on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 at St. Michael's Hospital in Sauk Centre.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 19, 2004 at Little Sauk-Long Bridge Lutheran Church, Sauk Centre with Rev. Steve Hilde officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and Monday at the church one hour prior to the service. A prayer service will be held at 7:45 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Ruth Cheney was born on February 19, 1923 in Hopkins, Minnesota to Fred and Sophie Ida (Steudemann) Lemke. She grew up in Hopkins. Ruth married Joyce Cheney on May 25, 1945 at Hopkins, Minnesota. They lived in Chaska for 37 ó years. They moved to Sauk Centre to retire in 1984.She was a member of Little Sauk-Long Bridge Lutheran Church and the Long Bridge Ladies Aid. Ruth enjoyed walking and visiting neighbors when they lived in Chaska. She loved to go shopping. When they moved to Sauk Centre she enjoyed bus tours and going to casinos.

Survivors include her son, Grant Cheney (Rita) of St. Cloud; grandchildren, Angie Madsen (Robert) of Shakopee and Daniel Cheney (Stacy) of St. Cloud; great grandchildren, Robert and Carter Cheney; brothers and sister, Henry Lemke of Fridley, James Lemke (Norma) of Elk River, Wilbur Lemke of Waterville, Harold Lemke of Richfield, Jeanette Schlechter of Crystal and Louise Schlechter of Bloomington.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joyce W. Cheney on March 13, 2003; and brothers, Ervin, Herbert, Edward and Leonard Lemke.

Casket bearers will be Dan Cheney, Dennis Sueflow, David Kleppen, Gary Bjorstrom, Verner Sameulson and Grant Blaskowski. Cross bearer will be Angie Madsen.