Ruth Anne (Tonn) Magnus (94) of St. Peter

Ruth Anne (Tonn) Magnus, 94, of St. Peter, Illinois went home to be with the Lord at 9:25 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at Lutheran Care Center, Altamont, Illinois with family by her side.

Her prayers to God to reunite in heaven with her beloved husband of 76 years, Hilmer F. Magnus, and other family members have been answered.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 24, 2022 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, St. Peter, Illinois with a one hour viewing prior to the service. Rev. Ryan Meyer will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 23, 2022 at Pagel Funeral Homes, St. Peter, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, Ruth requested memorials be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church or to the Lutheran Care Center, Altamont, Illinois. Online condolences may be left by clicking here.

Ruth was born on May 3, 1928 at the rural Mason, IL home of her parents Ernest and Amelia (Schaefer) Tonn. As the second of four children, she was assigned numerous chores outside the house including milking the cows, bringing firewood into the kitchen, etc. After the evening meal, they would listen to the radio while shucking chickpeas for animal feed. Ruth often said “I thought we really had to work hard as kids but I guess it did not hurt us.” Ruth set a goal for herself to obtain an education. After finishing her morning chores, she would walk the three miles to a one room schoolhouse north of Mason, IL. She proceeded to Mason High School (a three-year curriculum) and finished her fourth year at LaGrove Community High School in Farina, IL where she received her diploma on May 25, 1945. She often encouraged her grandchildren to pursue their education as she believed it was very important. On July 15, 1945 Ruth married Hilmer F. Magnus at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Parsonage. Ruth assisted Hilmer in all duties of the farm, including custom bailing and cutting silage, raising their own wheat, corn and soybeans while caring for livestock. As a result of all this hard work, Hilmer and Ruth were able to purchase the farm on which they raised their family. Ruth was also the area Avon Lady making home visits for several decades selling Avon products. Ruth was active in St. Peter Lutheran Church becoming a member on December 22, 1946. She taught children’s Sunday School for many years and participated in the Ladies Aide Society (now LWML) including serving as an officer, chairing the annual Turkey Supper, contributing to and serving meals after church funerals, and preparing German Potato Salad for the annual St. Peter Prairie Days. Along with numerous other ladies, she participated in Monday afternoon quilting group at the church with funds raised from quilting used for missions. With travel planned by their daughter Nancy Kingery, along with son-in-law Gary, Hilmer and Ruth were able to visit Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Hawaii and several other states. Ruth’s example of hard work, commitment to family, whom she loved dearly and was very proud of, and faith in the Lord was evident and has been passed down to future generations. When asked by a young granddaughter what her favorite color was, Ruth replied “White – it represents the purity of Jesus.” Ruth’s last audible words were “I am ready to go see the Lord and the whole family”.

Ruth is survived by son Allen Magnus (wife Lody), daughters Carolyn Boldt (husband Ron) and Shelley Young (husband Joel), son-in-law Gary Kingery, sister-in-law Delores Ford (husband Darrell), 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hilmer, daughter Nancy Kingery, parents Ernest and Amelia Tonn, brothers Verne in infancy, Marvin Tonn (wife Shirley, second wife Mary), Albert Tonn (wife Cindy), sister Esther Webster, niece Karen (Tonn) Wendte and nephew Dennis Tonn. And inlaws Paul and Ella Magnus, August Bergmann, Lavern Magnus (wife Esther), Arlene Lee (husband Charlie), Malinda Hinton (husband Orville), Helen Magnus, in infancy, and nephews Ronnie Hinton, Dennis Lee, and Jerry Lee.