Mary Louise Ruden

Mary Louise Ruden, 78, of Littleton, CO peacefully passed away on the morning of November 18, 2017. Mary was born on April 15, 1939 in Owatonna, MN, to Christian and Edith Bertelsen. She was the second of four children. Due to Christian's work as a Lutheran pastor, the family moved frequently when Mary was a child. After graduating high school in Kankakee, IL, Mary went off to study at Dana College, in Blair, NE. She was excited to attend college at Dana because it was the same school where her father learned English, attended Academy, and completed his seminary work at Trinity Seminary. Mary graduated from Dana College in May of 1962 and became an elementary school teacher. She taught in Grand Island, NE before relocating to Denver, CO. In 1972, she met her future husband James (Jim) Ruden. Two years later, on August 17, 1974, Jim and Mary were married. They decided to start a family and on July 1, 1979 Mary gave birth to her first son, James (Jimmy) Ruden II. Three years later on January 29, 1982, they welcomed their second son, Peter Ruden. In 1990, Mary got to fulfill a lifelong dream of traveling back to Denmark to visit family, see the farm her father grew up on, and the schoolhouse her father attended in Harndrup. After returning from Denmark, Mary was diagnosed with M.S. Shortly thereafter, Mary retired from teaching after 26 dedicated years spent at Skyline Vista Elementary, in Adams County, Colorado, School District 50.

Mary loved music and singing, she was always singing a song. Every year on Christmas Eve she'd lead the family in singing old Danish hymns. She loved going up to the Bucksnort Saloon and singing rowdy songs. She especially loved the Bucksnort closing tradition of everyone holding hands and dancing in a circle singing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot." She was very proud of her family's Danish tradition, which was evident to anyone stopping by her house to see her many Danish flags and collection of Danish artifacts she collected on her trips to Denmark, to the Danish Archives, Danish Heritage Museum, and Danish Windmill in Elkhorn, IA. Mary was also very strong in her Lutheran faith and involved with a number of church organizations, Bible studies, women’s groups and retreats. Through the many church groups in which she was a member, Mary made lifelong friends and touched many lives. Mary was especially proud and grateful for the opportunity to shape the lives of young children as an elementary school teacher. She loved reading stories to children; some of her favorites being "Charlotte's Web," "Spotty," "Clifford the Big Red Dog," and "Brave John Henry." Even after she retired from teaching, Mary continued to touch the lives of children at church and in the neighborhood, offering them rides on her scooter and buying them treats. Everyone who knew Mary has their own story to tell about their experience and relationship with her.

Mary is survived by her loving husband Jim; her sons Jimmy and Peter; sister Carol Schmidt and brother in-law Curtis Schmidt; brother Norman Bertelsen and sister in-law Voanne Bertelsen; brother Jim Bertelsen and sister in-law Linda Bertelsen; brother in-law Roger Ruden, sister in-law Connie Ruden; and brother in-law Randy Ruden and sister in-law Judy Ruden. A memorial service will be held on Friday December 1 at 11:00 at Abiding Hope Lutheran Church, 6337 S. Robb Way, Littleton, CO 80127. Please join the family for a luncheon immediately following the service. The family kindly asks that gifts be made in Mary's name to the Danish American Archive and Library (DAAL), 1738 Washington Street, Blair, NE 68008 or to Abiding Hope Lutheran Church, 6337 S. Robb Way, Littleton, CO 80127.