Ruth Lila Biermann, 91, of NYA
Ruth Lila Biermann, 91, of Norwood Young America, died Saturday, June 16, 2018, at The Haven at Peace Village in Norwood Young America.
Funeral services were held Thursday, June 21, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norwood Young America with the Rev. Eric Hutchison officiating. Rita Luecke was the organist. Soloist Todd Bentz sang “The Lord’s My Shepherd” and “The Lord’s Prayer.” Doug Stuedeman, saxophone, and Linda Stuedeman, piano, performed “How Great Thou Art.” Congregational hymns were “Amazing Grace” and “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
Casket bearers were Adam McDonald, Christopher Biermann, Jonathan Biermann, Aron Teppo, Justin Schuster, Quintin Biermann, Spencer Biermann and Lincoln Biermann. Interment was in the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Helen Township, rural Glencoe.
Ruth Lila Biermann was born Jan. 9, 1927, at home in Hutchinson, the daughter of Paul and Lila (Luedtke) Horrmann. She was baptized Feb. 6, 1927, and confirmed in her faith on March 17, 1940, both by the Rev. William Schulz at Frieden’s Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. She grew up in Hutchinson and graduated with the Hutchinson High School class of 1944, attending one year at Minnesota Business School after graduation.
She was united in marriage to Lawrence Biermann on Nov. 21, 1946. They made their home on Mr. Biermann’s family farm in Helen Township and were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Helen Township, where Mrs. Biermann was active in ladies aid and taught Sunday school. The couple was blessed with five children, Bruce, Kathleen, Bradford, Patrice and Brian. The family moved to their home in Norwood in 1967 and joined St. John’s Lutheran Church in Young America.
Mrs. Biermann was blessed with a strong work ethic. She learned the value of hard work growing up on the family farm, and she put that knowledge to good use as an adult, farming with Lawrence until 1958. From 1958 to 1963, the Biermanns owned and operated Lawrence’s Bar in Glencoe, where they had countless good times with friends and family. She also worked as a secretary in Albert Lea, Glencoe and Norwood Young America, retiring in 1988.
She brought that work ethic with her as a faithful and active member of St. John’s LWML. She held a variety of offices in the organization, and enjoyed attending many meetings, conferences and other gatherings over the years. She spent countless hours making phone calls and organizing servant lists, buttering buns and serving hotdish. In all the ways she served, she always wanted to make sure things were done just right.
Mrs. Biermann’s most important job, though, was as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She cared for her family in lots of practical ways: her attention to detail made her a skilled sewer who could patch just about anything, and her grandchildren were continually amazed at her ability to fill a table with delicious food at the drop of a hat. But, even more than that, Mrs. Biermann blessed her family with her support and pride in their accomplishments, offering to them an example of faithful living and encouraging them to achieve their highest potential.
She eagerly looked forward to deer hunting each fall, making the trip up north every year into her 80s. She was a wonderful bowler, playing on several teams and leagues throughout the years, even teaching bowling on occasion at Glencoe High School. She was a 4-H leader and supported her children as they participated in the organization. She loved dancing with her husband and weekend jaunts with family and friends; she enjoyed playing cards, fishing, reading and doing crossword puzzles. She could hardly wait to get up to the family cabin on Lake Koronis each spring, where she could enjoy many of those things and, sometimes (rarely) do nothing at all.
Mrs. Biermann’s faith was a source of strength and comfort, a gift she shared generously with those around her. She was inspired by scripture’s accounts of God’s hope and promise conveyed through angels, and she believed that angels still walk among us. In her later years, she surrounded herself with a beautiful collection of seraphim and angels as a reminder of that hope and promise. Even with the health challenges she faced in recent years, her faith in God, commitment to her church, and her love of family were central to who she was through all of her days.
She and her husband moved to The Harbor at Peace Village in 2014, where they enjoyed the last days of nearly 70 years of marriage until Mr. Biermann’s death on Aug. 23, 2016.
She is survived by her children, Bruce Biermann of Hopkins, Bradford (Sara) Biermann of Mound, Patrice Thomas of Litchfield and Brian (Kari) Biermann of Hamburg; son-in-law, John Kearney of Prior Lake; eight grandchildren, Jessica (Adam) McDonald of Shakopee, Christopher (Sehaj Sethi) of Astoria, New York, Jonathan (Laura) Biermann of Hopkins, Valerie (Aron) Teppo of Petersburg, North Dakota, Stephanie (Justin) Schuster of Buffalo, Quintin (Meghan) Biermann of Rapid City, South Dakota, Spencer Biermann of Fort Bliss, Texas, and Lincoln Biermann of Roslyn, South Dakota; great-grandchildren, Duncan McDonald, Jaemon McDonald, Ewan McDonald, Caroline McDonald, Jasper Biermann and Briggs Biermann; sister, Harriett Bergs of Glencoe; sister-in-law, Rose Kroeger of Lake Crystal; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Biermann; daughter, Kathleen Kearney; son-in-law, Lane Thomas; parents, Paul and Lila Horrmann; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Albert and Minnie Biermann; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Maynard Bergs, Martin Kroeger, Helen and Otto Lindeman, Luverna and Arnold Thiesfeld, Marie and Hillard Boltmann and Allen and Corrine Biermann.
Arrangements were with the Paul-McBride Funeral Chapel in Norwood Young America. Online obituaries and guest book are available at www.mcbridechapel.com.
