Obituary for Rinehart Ruff | David Lee Funeral Home & Cremation Services
- Date Of Birth: May 22, 1929
- Date Of Death: November 20, 2013
- State: Michigan
Ruff, R.W. “Rick” made a quiet journey from his earthly life to his new home on November 20, 2013. Born in Gackle, North Dakota in 1929, he took 84 years to “tire” before he could tire again or “retire.” Such were the kinds of plays on words our dad used to weave humor through a long life filled with family, business, music, learning, travel, an extended church community and communion with nature. Rick was born into a tight-knit German family, the youngest of seven children. As the youngest, with older brothers already away from home, Rick was affectionately called ‘das kindt’ (the child) by his father. The sudden death of his father when Rick was only 12 years old, imbued in him a growing sense of responsibility and independence. As a young man, Rick earned a Business Degree from the University of North Dakota where he sang with the Madrigal Choir. After college and a two-year stint in Alaska with the Air Force, he returned to UND for a year of pre-law before attending Stanford University, where he earned an MBA in 1957. Rick married fellow UND alum, Dureen Anne Johnson in 1956. They moved from CA. to MN. in 1957, ultimately settling into our family home in Plymouth in 1966. Rick found his professional home in Shoreview, at Deluxe Check, where his creative mind was put to good use as Director of Product Development during 25 years of employment, before retiring in 1994. He found his spiritual home at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he served for many years as Deacon, Elder, and Trustee and joyfully raised his baritone voice in the choir for more than 40 years. With these three “homes” as anchor, our Mom and Dad raised four children, grew gardens and countless trees, as well as friendships and businesses (a Christmas tree farm and d. Anne Ruff Miniatures in particular). In his three-piece suit, white shirt and tie, Dad presented a look of formality that belied his North Dakota-style pragmatic frugality (eschewing the purchase of casual clothes, he regularly accomplished yard work in well-worn wingtip shoes and old shirts). Pragmatism he set aside however, on occasions like New year’s Eve, when he donned his tuxedo! For more than 20 years he and mom made an annual trip between Christmas and New Year’s to the home of friends on the east coast where together, five couples from across the country enjoyed a week-long “house party.” During his journey through life, there were two places that held an enduring appeal, the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming (where he and mom spent their honeymoon, celebrated wedding anniversaries, and we as a family spent many vacations) and their log cabin in the woods of northwestern Wisconsin where he was content to quietly contemplate the birds, a sunset reflecting off the lake, or the trees of the forest while sitting upon a ‘situpon’ (his word for any conveniently fallen log which resembled a bench). He enjoyed the nearby lake where he could drop anchor near a quiet spot and watch for loons and soaring eagles. Despite the toll Alzheimer’s was taking on his memory, he and mom continued to travel; including an enchanting trip to Paris in the spring of 2008, and in 2012 an epic six-week car journey, (piloted by mom) across the western half of the country. As Dad’s illness condensed his experience of life ever closer to the present moment, he retained his wry humor, his pleasure in sitting in the serene “green garden” he had grown, his pride in his grandchildren and children (‘rugrats’ as he called us even into our adulthood), his lifetime appreciation for music, and his abiding love and admiration for his wife of 57 years. Though his professional life was fulfilling, from graduate school to retirement, it is the “small things” that are now remembered and seem the most important. Rick is survived by his wife Dureen; sisters, Lorene Leonard and Ann (Warren) Bettenhausen; children, Sue (Terry) Wellman, Kris Ruff (Greg) Heideman, Steve (Colleen) Ruff and Anne Marie Ruff (Lali) Grewal; as well as eight grandchildren, extended Ruff and Johnson clans and many dear friends. All will miss his wise counsel and ready smile. We as a family, wish to thank the staff and aides of Clare Bridge of Plymouth for the kind and loving care Rick received during his residency there.