Ruth Marion VandenBerg, 95, of Harmony, MN went to be with the Lord on January 29, 2017 at the Gundersen Harmony Care Center in Harmony, MN.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 3, at 11 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD.  Friends may call two hours prior to services at the church.  Burial will be at Fairlawn Cemetery in Aurora following the lunch. Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings is handling the arrangements.

Ruth was born on April 3, 1921 to Carl and Amelia Seger in Wausa, NE. She was confirmed at Thabor Lutheran Church.  In 1938, she graduated from Wausa High School. Following graduation she attended Luther College, Wahoo, NE and completed her nursing program at Lutheran Hospital, Sioux City, IA.  Ruth's nursing degree was practiced in Hawarden and Orange City, IA where she met a tall Dutchman, Rodney VandenBerg. They married on February 21, 1947.

Ruth and Rodney lived and farmed near Clark and Garden City, SD from 1947-52 when they purchased a farm south-east of Aurora, SD where they lived until Rodney's death in July 1993.  Ruth then resided in Brookings, SD until moving to Harmony MN in August 2011.

Ruth worked at the Brookings Hospital for 25 years.  A humanitarian and always compassionate, she took care of everyone who needed her; newborns and their mothers, neighbors with health issues, and bum lambs.  There was no end to her love for her family, children and grandchildren, and the feeling was mutual for "Grandma Ruth".

She was a dedicated member of First Lutheran Church.  Some of Ruth's favorite activities were sewing quilts for Lutheran World Relief and serving on the baptism committee.

Within the Brookings community Ruth was a 4-H leader for 12 years, and Brookings County Extension Homemaker, receiving the 1993 Good Neighbor Award.  In 1994 she was selected as South Dakota Ki-Wife of the Year.

When her hands weren't busy sewing and baking, or teaching someone else these skills, her green thumbs were producing flowers and organic vegetables for all to enjoy. Ruth was an avid basketball fan following her children's and grandchildren's events.

Ruth is survived by: her children, Veda (Del) Elston of Harmony MN, Kathleen Fox of Westland MI, Wayne VandenBerg of Hot Springs, SD, Lorna (Jay) Eliason of Chadron, NE; eight grandchildren: Amy (Max) Jenatscheck, Dory Elston, Beau (Summer) Elston, Jeremy (Heather) Fox, Brian (Kathy) Fox, Brayden VandenBerg, Elliott and Spencer Eliason; great grandchildren: Carter, Lydia, and Cooper Jenatscheck, Peyton and Zach Mensink, Mason, Preston, and Delaney Elston, Avery, Lexie, and Easton Fox, and Adam Fox; sister, Arlis Lind; brother Lloyd Seger; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Rodney; brother, Wesley Seger; brothers-in-law: Sheldon Lind, Robert VandenBerg, and Jack Innes; and sisters-in-law: Muriel Seger, Louise Seger, Jane VandenBerg and Ruth Innes.

Blessed be her memory.

Memorials will be directed at the family's discretion.