The funeral fervice for Ruth L. Borchard of New Richland, will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2002 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. The Rev. Paul Andree will officiate. Interment will be in St. Olaf Cemetery, New Richland. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Friedrich Funeral Home, New Richland, and one hour before the service at the church.

Ruth died peacefully at her home on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2002. She was 91.

She was born on Aug. 27, 1911, in Gowrie, Iowa, the daughter of Martin and Alyce (Gustafson) Olson. As a young girl her family moved to Minnesota and she was raised in New Richland. Ruth graduated from New Richland High School in 1928, and then from Mankato Teachers College. She taught in a one room school house in rural

Janesville for one year, and then in rural New Richland for three years.

On June 22, 1935, Ruth married Ralph Borchard at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. Ralph owned and operated Borchards Implement for over 40 years and together they raised their family. Ruth was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she was active in Ladies Aid and Mission Circle. She had also been active in the League of Women Voters. In later years, Ralph and Ruth loved their orange grove in Florida. Ruth continued to spend winters in Florida until the past two years.

Ruth is survived by four children: David Borchard and his wife Pat of Shepherdstown, W. Va., Clark Borchard and his wife Bonnie of Minnetonka, Carol Wolter and her husband David of Albert Lea, Tom Borchard and his wife Peggy of New Richland; grandchildren: Julie Borchard and her fiance Nassar of Arlington, Va., Kim White and and her husband John of Corona, Calif., Eric Borchard and his wife Therese of Annapolis, Md., Stephanie Monroe and her husband Chris of Appleton, Wis., Greg Borchard of Gainesville, Fla., Traci Borchard of St. Paul, Erin Borchard of Minnetonka, Steve Borchard, of Minnetonka,Dan Borchard of of Owatonna, Lynn Borchard, of Whitestone, N.Y., Laurie Borchard of St. Paul, great- grandchildren: Will and Charlie Monroe, David Borchard; a sister Dorothy Piltingsrud of California; brother-in-law Don Borchard of New Richland, sister’s-in-law: Ethel Schwichtenberg of Morristown, Minn., Lucille Borchardt of Faribault, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ralph, a brother Russell Olson and his wife Janice, brothers-in-law Rudolph Piltingsrud and Art Schwichtenberg, sister-in-law Hazel Borchard. Ruth was a loving, compassionate wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her family and friends were her life. Ruth loved life, she was always supportive and was a positive influence to her family. Ruth was a beautiful lady inside and out, and her Christian principles were revealed in the loving way she lived life and treated others. Our memories of her will be cherished in our hearts forever.