Ruth Nilsen, 82, of Eau Claire died Monday, January 11, 2010, at Dove Healthcare Center.

She was born in Oslo, Norway on September 2, 1927, a daughter of William and Emilie (Zeuthen) Frisch.

Ruth married Haakon I. Nilsen in Bodø, Norway on July 26, 1952.  In 1953, they immigrated to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to be near her parents who had immigrated in 1950.

She was a proud citizen of the United States, but was also very proud of her Norwegian heritage and belonged to two Sons of Norway Lodges:  Løven Lodge 29, Eau Claire and Vennskapp Lodge 622, Sheboygan Falls.

She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and was a faithful listener of the televised Sunday service.  She deeply appreciated the visits from her pastors, David Irgens and Rolf Nestingen.

After completing high school in Norway, Ruth completed dressmaker school and spent years earning a living as a seamstress as well as sewing for her family.  She was very creative with other needles as well…knitting, crocheting, embroidery, plastic canvas.  As skilled as she was in mending a seam, her greatest talent was in mending heartache, sharing wisdom and guidance, sorrow and joy, and always an encouraging word.  For her unending faith in her children and grandchildren, we are deeply grateful and hope we can carry on her warm and giving nature.

Ruth was a lover of history, culture and languages and enjoyed teaching Norwegian language classes for the Ager Association.  She rejoiced in knowing she had shared not only her first language, but her culture as well and always thought she had the best students.  But then, she always saw the best in everyone.  That she was able to do this and have a great sense of humor, wit and optimism despite having witnessed some of the worst in people during the Nazi occupation of her country during her teen years and having lost three of her children in infancy truly amazed us.

Ruth is survived by her three children, Astrid Nilsen of Eau Claire and daughter Heidi; Kurt I. (Tammy) Nilsen of Eau Claire and children Scott and Kristen; Svend (Nancy) Nilsen of Fall Creek and children Nikki (Terry) McCann, Bo, Charissa, Chad (Nicki), and Benjamin Nilsen; three great grandchildren, Elijah Acosta, Gillian Nilsen, and Keira McCann; two sisters Bjørg (Bob) Hansen of Denver, CO and Anne (Fred) Bruechert of Manitowoc, WI;  three nephews, Paul (Lana) Songe-Moeller, Terry and Darcy Bruechert; and three nieces, Linda (Rob) Blanck, Nancy (Bill) Koch and Cindy (Max) Marti.  She is further survived by a daughter-in-law Gail Nilsen; several great nieces and nephews; and her relatives and friends in Norway.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Haakon in 2007; three children, Kurt, Kirsten and Janne Nilsen; and a niece, Mary Lynn Bruechert.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Dove Healthcare Center and to St. Joseph’s Hospice for their tireless commitment in caring for Ruth during the last days of her life.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2009, at Grace Lutheran Church, 202 W. Grand Ave., Eau Claire with Rev. David J. Irgens officiating.  Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in Eau Claire.  Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.