Ruth Jenny Hilagarde (Johnson) Friedlund 89, of  Knox went to be with the Lord on October 30, 2017. 

Ruth was born on June 6, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the daughter of the late Gertrude and Enoch Johnson.

 Ruth attended first through twelfth grade in Chicago public schools and received her higher education at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. It was here that she met the love of her life, Maurice E. Friedlund. They were married on June 16, 1950 and celebrated 63 years of marriage.

 In the early years of their marriage Ruth worked for a young Billy Graham as his personal secretary.  She would always say, “It’s my claim to fame.”

 Ruth was a devoted Preacher’s wife and was his secretary for over 50 years. Preach and Ruth’s first church was Rock Falls, in Sterling, Illinois.  There were only a handful of members. But after Preach’s and Ruth’s hard work they had over 150 members and built a new church.  This was to become their life’s pattern of success in the ministry. Together they served in nine congregations in three different states; Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

 Ruth also loved to coach the Bible Quiz Team at Cottage Grove Church and at Grace Church. She won many Championships throughout the years. And as a coach helped many of the youth to study God’s word and build a closer relationship to God.

Ruth was very family orientated and enjoyed raising her six children and later playing with her eleven grandchildren and great grandchildren.

 Ruth also enjoyed baking nut breads, coffee cakes, pies and cookies. In turn which were given to the congregation members and shut-ins and her grandchildren enjoyed her own recipe of Rice Krispies for which she was famous.

 Surviving is her sister, Esther Thompson of MN, her 4 children, Susan Dolciato and her husband Tony of Ohio, Jim Friedlund and his wife Gwen of MN, Bob Friedlund and his wife Darla of Knox and John Friedlund and his wife Kathy of Boyertown; eleven grandchildren Robert Dolciato and his wife Bice of OH, Matt Friedlund of Boyertown, Kayla Friedlund of MN, Andy Friedlund and wife Jenna of Lancaster, Pa., Karen Kapp and husband Tyler of Boyertown, Gabrielle Berry and husband Luke of Ohio, Michael “Bubba” Friedlund of MN, Natalie Friedlund of Knox, Molly Friedlund of MN, Amy Friedlund of Boyertown and Alec Friedlund of Knox. Also surviving are 5 great grandchildren Adriana, Marissa and Michael Dolciato of OH, Maelee Kapp of Boyertown and Josephine Friedlund of Lancaster.

In addition to Ruth’s husband Maurice, “Preach”, her parents and a baby brother she was preceded in death by two children, her daughter Karen Friedlund who passed away in 1971 and her son David Friedlund in 1991.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 PM Tuesday, November 7th at McEntire-Weaver Funeral Home, 504 East Penn Ave, Knox, and from 10 to 11 Wednesday at the Grace EC Church, 2561 Grace Church Road, Knox.  Funeral services will be held at the church at 11 AM with Rev. Rick Osberg officiating.  Interment will follow at Starr Cemetery.

There will be a luncheon served following the funeral service.

To view and share photos or leave an online condolence please visit our web site at www.mcentire-weaverfuneralhome.com

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