Eileen Ruff

Eileen Marie Ruff died gracefully in the early morning of Sept. 5 from complications of congestive heart failure. Eileen was born April 22, 1935 to Herman Prziborowski and Ann Yozamp in Sauk Rapids, Minn., where she grew up and graduated from high school. She completed a two-year nursing degree in Crookston, Minn. Eileen married William Charles Ruff of St. Cloud, Minn. on Oct. 29, 1955 in Devil's Lake, N.D. For the next 51 years, Eileen worked as a nurse at hospitals and nursing homes in Elbow Lake, Minn.; Farmington, Minn.; Beloit, Wis.; and Long Prairie. Eileen and Bill were long-time residents of Long Prairie, moving there in 1969. She was active in many local organizations, including the Snappy Dragons Garden Club and as a board member of the old board and care home. After leaving employment at the Long Prairie nursing home, Eileen worked as a home health nurse for a number of years. She moved to Edina, Minn. in 2006 and continued working as a companion and aide, until moving to Gibbon, Minn. with a daughter in December. Eileen helped many people through illnesses and in their last days. Eileen saw the good in and could talk to almost anyone. An extended family member gave a wonderful description: "She was always so happy and interested in everyone in the room. She always steered the conversations to positive subjects. Even if you hated your job or were struggling in school, somehow she got you talking about what you liked about it or what you were looking forward to." She was preceded in death by her husband and was the last surviving member of her family of origin, which included brothers Melvin and Marvin Prziborowski. She is survived by daughter Gwen of Gibbon; daughter Pam Krzmarzick and son-in-law Randy of Sleepy Eye, Minn.; son Bill and daughter-in-law Cass of Plymouth, Minn.; son Doug of Buffalo, Minn.; granddaughter Anna Krzmarzick of Rochester, Minn.; grandson Ben Woit and his wife, Eliana, of Grand Forks, N.D.; grandson Andy Woit of St. Charles, Ill.; granddaughter Claire Woit of Minneapolis; granddaughter Abby Krzmarzick of Minneapolis, Minn., grandson Jack Ruff of Plymouth, Minn.; grandson Ezra Krzmarzick of Sleepy Eye, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews. Memorials will be used to benefit residents of Lake Villa Maria senior apartments in Sleepy Eye, where Eileen lived the last two months of her life and, true to her nature, was considered a smiling and cheerful friend by many.