Elsie V. Ruotsi

Funeral service for Elsie Victoria Ruotsi, 93, of Virginia, will be 11am Monday, April 16, 2012 at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert with Pastor Todd Williamson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Gilbert Cemetery. Elsie died Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at her home. She was born June 7, 1918 in Gilbert, MN to Gunnar and Mary (Erickson) Berquist. Following her schooling, she married Eino J. Ruotsi on December 3, 1948 in Mt. Iron, MN. Elsie worked as a baby nurse in private homes and hospitals in Chicago, out east and finally at Virginia Regional Medical Center. She was a homemaker who enjoyed writing poetry, sewing and quilting. She was an accomplished singer and seamstress. She was a member of Kaleva and Grace Baptist Church. Survivors include her children, Hylda (John) Sundeen of Virginia, Jon (Suzanne) Ruotsi of Kent, WA, Mable (John) Arola of Virginia, Eric (Linda) Sweden of Kansas and Ellen (Ron) Ostman of Mt. Iron; eleven grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; brother, Gunnar Berquist of California; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Eino; sisters, Mable, Irene and Amy; brothers, William and Henry.