Ruth M. Hammer

Ruth M. Hammer, age 92, of Henning, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Willow Creek Assisted Living in Henning.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Henning with Rev. Keith Lankford officiating. Interment will be held at Grace Cemetery, Henning.

Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. and conclude with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service, on Tuesday, May 6th, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and will continue one hour prior to the service.

Ruth lived an active life through all her 92 years. She embodied a sense of wonderment and adventure, always curious and involved. Her involvement and nurturing nature stretched beyond family and into the community as a seamstress sewing wedding dresses, formal dresses, sashes for the Henning Festival Pageant and cloth diapers for babies and families in need overseas. She was “Grandma Ruth” not only to her many grandchildren and great grandchildren, but also to their friends and others. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and playing cards and other games with anyone who joined her at her table.

Ruth was born and raised in the Henning area and graduated from Henning high school in 1951. She married Meland Arnold Hammer and raised their five children: Rick, Greg, Ron, Steve and Tania. They lived in Waterloo, Iowa, and Circle Pines, MN, before returning to Henning. Ruth also held many careers and owned businesses, starting in banking sorting incoming checks after high school and on to notably managing “Doc” Ellingson’s dentistry front office in Battle Lake, owning and managing two area resorts, running her own ceramics business, as well as operating a bed and breakfast. Later in life, she enjoyed traveling extensively with her friend Curt.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eric and Mary “Granny” Peterson; son Boyd Hammer; son-in-law Virgil Luken; daughter-in-law Roxanne Hammer; brothers, Charles and Paul; and sister, Eleanor Westerman.

Ruth is survived by her five children, Rick (Deanna) Hammer, Greg (Connie) Hammer, Ron Hammer, Steve (Lori) Hammer, and Tania Hammer Luken; two sisters, Shirley Solberg and Sharon Rowan; 11 grandchildren, Chris (Brandi), Adam (Tanya), Melissa (Jon), Eric, Gregory II (Tracy), Matthew, Sean (Mackenzie), Ryan (Kelsey), Rachael (Casey), Stephanie, and Aaron (Jul); 32 great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are grandsons, Chris, Adam, Gregory II, Matthew, Sean, and Ryan.