Ardella Agnes (Gunnerson) Rued

Ardella Agnes Rued, 85, of Aitkin, passed away, Sunday, February 23, 2020 at Aicota Health Care Center, Aitkin.  She was born January 7, 1935 in Annandale to Raymond and Ellen (Nivala) Gunnerson.  Ardella graduated from Annandale High School in 1952 as Valedictorian.  She received a Registered Nurse diploma in 1955 from Swedish Hospital, Minneapolis and graduated from the University of Minnesota Rural Nurse and Practitioner Course in 1994.  Her lifetime career was focused on nursing until she retired in 1997. She worked at Swedish Hospital, Minneapolis, MN; Morris, Hospital, MN; Waseca Hospital, MN; Aitkin Hospital, MN; and Aitkin Clinic as a registered nurse. She assumed positions of being the Director of Nursing at Aitkin Nursing Home and Aitkin Hospital as well as Aicota Nursing Home for a number of years. She moved into serving as a hospice nurse for Aitkin County and from this experience, she started a home care service in Brainerd and managed it until retirement. She also started the parish nurse program at First Lutheran Church in Aitkin.  Volunteer activities includes participating in Maria Chapel Ladies Aide, Circle First Lutheran Church, Girl Scout leadership, and 4-H leadership. She sang in the  Brainerd Chapter of the Sweet Adelines and in church choirs for a number of years. She was active in the Republican party and a member of Senate Wives. After retirement, she served on the hospital auxiliary in Ormond Beach, Florida and in Aitkin.  Ardella enjoyed investing in her children and grandchildren after her retirement. Ardella will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Ardella is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Donald, Colin and Doug Gunnerson; sisters, Judy Grev, Elaine Hugill, Carol Anderson and Joyce Ekegren.

Ardella is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Dave Rued of Aitkin; children, Judy (Daryl) Slegh of Andover, MN, Tim (Lynn) Rued of Herbster, WI and Susan  (Brian) Anderson of Marina del Rey, CA; grandchildren, David (Rachel) Slegh, Daniel Slegh, Matthew (Ali) Slegh, Sarah Slegh, Eric (Bri) Slegh, Britta Rued, Heidi Rued and Annika Anderson; sister, Annette (Ivan) Russell; brother-in-law, Julian Grev, and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A special thank you to Aicota Health Care Center for your care over the last few years.

Services will be Saturday, March 14 at 11 AM in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Crosby with Pastor Paul Mattson officiating. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church.   Interment will be in Diamond Lake Cemetery, Farm Island Township, Aitkin County at a later date. Memorials are preferred to Riverwood Hospital Foundation.  To sign the guestbook online, go to:  www.srtfuneral.com. Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service, Aitkin.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ardella Agnes (Gunnerson) Rued, please visit our floral store.