Ruth Siegle

Ruth Elizabeth Tolo Siegle, age 83 of Moorhead, MN passed away peacefully on April 2nd after a four-year journey with cancer.
She was born on March 11, 1934, in the Lutheran parsonage in Fertile, MN, and was baptized and confirmed at Concordia Lutheran Church by her father, Pastor G.W. Tolo. She graduated from Fertile High School in 1952 and attended Concordia College in Moorhead where highlights included singing in the concert choir and meeting the love of her life during the last week of her senior year, graduating in 1956 with a major in Home Economics and a minor in Sociology. During college she was a counselor at Emmaus Lutheran Bible Camp and a cook at Mount Carmel Lutheran Bible Camp. She was also a nurse’s aide at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis. She taught home Economics in Osakis, MN and Long Beach, CA. She enjoyed her employment at Bjornson Imports which gave her the opportunity to share her Norwegian heritage with others.
On June 22, 1958, she married the Rev. Raymond C. Siegle at Concordia Lutheran in Fertile, MN. Together they served Lutheran Parishes in Long Beach, CA, Nome-Fingal, Rugby, Lisbon, and Grand Forks, ND and Trinity Lutheran in Moorhead, MN. She was active in these churches through singing in choirs, leading Bible studies, chairing funeral committees, teaching Sunday/Bible School, and participating in women’s circles. Along with her husband, she led countless pilgrimages and tours both overseas and in this country. Her husband preceded her in death in June, 2006.
Ruth loved many things: cooking and baking, travelling, sewing, reading, solving puzzles, MN Twins baseball, and providing hospitality to her beloved friends and family. She and Ray had a long term commitment to the mission of Concordia College and received the Regent’s and the President’s award in 1983, and the Soli Deo Gloria Award in 1990.
Those who were privileged to share in her life include daughters Ann Siegle Drege Marsh, New York, and Mary Kummer Mike, Idaho, and son Steve Siegle Stacey Wisconsin. Ruth was “Nana” to grandchildren Elizabeth Kummer Idaho and McKinley Siegle Wisconsin. Also surviving are brother and sister-in-law David and Mary Tolo, Faye Siegle, Norma Tolo, and Carolyn Tolo, and several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life and faith for Ruth will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, April 6, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead. Visitation will be from 5:30 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. Wednesday, at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead and one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Interment will be in Prairie Home Cemetery in Moorhead. In lieu of flowers Memorials may be given to one of three causes close to Ruth’s heart: Trinity Lutheran Church Foundation, Moorhead; Concordia College, Moorhead; and Luther Seminary, St. Paul.