Ruth Leslie, of Houghton Lake, Michigan, left her place on earth to join her spiritual father on July 29, 2015.

An Austin, Minnesota, native, Ruth worked at the Hormel plant and farmed by Blooming Prairie where she resided for 27 years. Becoming a member of the Oak Glen Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star in 1960, Ruth served in six offices before being appointed Grand Chaplain of the Minnesota OES in 1967. With her appointment in 1977 to the position of Worthy Grand Matron, she headed the state organization of 226 OES chapters with a membership of over 38,000. Ruth was past president of the Blooming Prairie Women’s Golf Association and served as a Red Cross volunteer. Ruth kept a busy schedule and enjoyed traveling in her retirement before settling in Florida and, later, Houghton Lake, Michigan.

Ruth and her late husband Carl Leslie spent much time ballroom and square dancing. Ruth enjoyed visits from family and friends in her later years, as well as great love and care provided to her by the devoted staff at Brook Retirement Communities in Houghton Lake.

Ruth was proceeded in death by her parents Olaf and Loretta Bekkedahl; three older sisters: Stacia A. Angell, Lenore Becky Tolbers, and Marcella L. Lani; her husband Albert Jorgensen in 1986; her husband Carl Leslie in 2012; her daughter Judith Brewer in 2011; and her son Albert in 2012.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law Susan Jorgensen; and six grandchildren: Melissa Gaul, Amanda Sherpe, Betsy Jorgensen, Brett Brewer, Jill Snograss, and Scott Brewer.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2015, at Grandview Cemetery, Highway 218 South in Austin.