Ruby Viola Lien

Ruby Viola Lien, 95, of Litchfield, died April 26, 2016, at Cokato Manor, where she had been recovering from a fall in her home in January. Ruby Viola Bergquist was born April 26, 1921 in Collinwood Township, Meeker County, Minnesota, to Arvid and Sarah (Stromberg) Bergquist. She and her twin brother Reuben were baptized in what is today the parsonage of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, and they were confirmed on June 9, 1935 at Stockholm Lutheran Church. She graduated from Cokato High School, earned an elementary teaching certificate in Litchfield in 1940, and later graduated with her B.S. from St. Cloud State University in 1972. Ruby was united in marriage on August 19, 1944 to Roger Lien of rural Litchfield. Ruby and Roger raised two sons and continued to live in the Litchfield area for the rest of their lives. Beginning in the fall of 1941 until her retirement in 1984 (with a break of more than 10 years to raise her sons), Ruby taught in the rural schools of Meeker County and later in the elementary school in Eden Valley. She demonstrated a passion for teaching throughout her life and remained active in the Delta Kappa Gamma society for women educators long after her career had ended. Ruby and Roger were members of Ness Lutheran Church until its closing in 1969. They continued their active membership at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, where they served on boards and committees for many years. Ruby cherished the close friendships she built over several decades on the Mission Sewing circle. Ruby enjoyed reading, gardening, travel, music, maintaining correspondence with relatives in Sweden, supporting the Minnesota Vikings, and especially spending time with her children and grandchildren. Summer weeks spent at the Bergquist family cabin north of Brainerd held particular significance to Ruby. She was preceded in death by her parents, her twin brother Reuben Bergquist, and her loving husband of 50 years, Roger. Survivors include sister Mary Ann Johnson of Monticello; sister-in-law Ardelle Bergquist of Monticello; two sons, Steven (Chrys) of Cokato and Michael (Kathryn) of White Bear Lake; four grandchildren, Erik (Cristina) of St. Paul, David (Leigh Ann) of Franklin, Tenn., Andrea of St. Paul, and Elizabeth (Fernando Rodriguez) of Arlington, Va.; and five great-grandchildren. Visitation is scheduled for Monday, May 2, 5-8pm at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home in Litchfield. Memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 3, at 11am at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield with burial at Ness Church Cemetery. Previous Events Visitation Monday, May 2, 2016 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home 316 Sibley Avenue South Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Tuesday, May 3, 2016 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Zion Lutheran Church 504 North Gilman Avenue Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Tuesday, May 3, 2016 11:45 AM Ness Cemetery Litchfield Township, MN 55355