Ruth Mueller, age 93, of Prior Lake, MN, entered eternal peace with God on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Emerald Crest in Shakopee, MN.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 11 am, with a visitation from 9:30-10:45 am, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16400 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake. Fr. Tom Walker will preside. Ruth will be laid to rest at a private family burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, in Minneapolis, MN. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Ruth’s memory by the family.

Livestreaming will be available at St. Michael Catholic Church’s website https://stmichael-pl.org/ and by clicking on the “Mass and Services” tab.

On October 1, 1930, Ruth was born at home in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the sixth of 13 children born to Percy and Victoria (Thomure) DuFrenne. As a child, Ruth enjoyed bowling, tennis and playing basketball (with boys’ rules…real basketball!) She attended Rosati Kain High School and was a proud graduate of the class of 1948.

It was soon after high school, Ruth reconnected with a boy from grade school named Richard Arthur Mueller. Their courtship began the summer of 1952, when he was on leave from the Navy. Ruth and Rich’s love blossomed, and they were soon married on April 11, 1953, St. Edward’s Catholic Church in St. Louis (the home parish of both their families). The newlyweds soon moved to California and started a family. Ruth and Rich were blessed with five children. His work required him to move a lot, so the family lived in six different states and nine different cities. The Mueller family finally settled in Minnesota in 1972. First living in Edina for 20 years and eventually living in Prior Lake for their remaining years.

Throughout the years, Ruth was an advocate for a cause very close to her heart. She devoted much of her time volunteering at the National Alliance for Mental Illness in St. Paul, MN. At age 50, Ruth went back to school earning an associate degree in social work. She then worked for the Department of Human Services in the mental health division for a brief period. Ruth was a passionate woman who fought hard for any cause she believed in.

Besides being a “political animal,” Ruth also loved dancing and reading. She taught Rich to dance, and the two became quite good and loved attending local dances nearly every weekend. Ruth and Rich also enjoyed traveling together. She joined him on a trip to Europe, and the two made frequent trips to Florida. Ruth was an active member of the Catholic Church her whole life. She was involved in several prayer groups. Ruth was known to all as a positive, spunky, and open-hearted woman, who could light up a room with her giggle and smile.

Forever loved, Ruth will be missed by children, Joe (Pam) Mueller, Lisa (Dave) Erickson, Cindy (Jeff Palmer) Mueller, Mary (Mike) Jensen; grandchildren, Peter (Amy) Haag, Matthew (Michelle) Mueller, Sara (Alec) Walsh, Robert (Sam) Mueller, Bradley (Emily) Palmer, Todd Erickson, Hope (Ethan Freer) Mueller, Carly Erickson; 10 great grandchildren; brother, Denny DuFrenne; and many other loving relatives and friends.

Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Richard; infant son, Robert Michael Mueller; parents; and 11 siblings.

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