Ruth Petra Littau

Ruth P (Almen) Littau was born May 12, 1936, in Amery, WI to Rev. AP Almen and Ruth (Johnson) Almen. Ruth passed away peacefully while she slept early January 25, 2026, while

she was under hospice care; she had suffered from Parkinson's disease for over twenty years.

Ruth is survived by her three children: Katherine Swabacker (Stuart), Karen Alkons (Jim), and Karl Littau (Jane), her sister-in-law Marilyn Aimen, her three grandchildren, Anne Alkons, Erik Littau, and Taylor Littau, as well as beloved nieces and nephews.

Ruth was the third of four children in her family and was blessed with an especially beautiful singing voice. She sang like an angel in numerous church choirs, choral groups, and at so many weddings that "Oh, Promise Me" was etched in her memory forever. Her family is comforted by the thought that she is now singing with a heavenly choir.

Ruth met her future husband, Ruben Littau, in her freshman year at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. They were married in August of 1955. Ruth and Ruben started a family while Ruben completed his master's degree in mathematics at USD in Vermilion, S.Dak. They moved to California where they lived out most of their married lives in Meadow Vista and Auburn. Ruben passed away in 2020 after 65 years of marriage together, and Ruth lived with

her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Jim, in Sacramento for the last seven years of her life.

Ruth always said that her greatest accomplishment in life was raising her family, whom she loved with all her heart. On the other hand, Ruth's family was very proud and happy that she returned to college as an adult and earned her degree in Journalism from California State University, Sacramento in 1974. She worked for a while at the Auburn Journal and at other professional positions, but found her true calling when she and Ruben purchased Pony Express

Printers in 1994 and ran their business for nearly 15 years in their "retirement". Ruth enjoyed being an active member of Auburn's Downtown Business Association, the Business and

Professional Women's Association, and Soroptimist International, as well as many other community-based organizations. She was devoted to the Auburn community and to St. Paul's

Lutheran Church, especially the Lutheran Women's Missionary League.

Ruth's family wishes to thank the wonderful people at AC Hospice for their care and dedication to Ruth's comfort over the past year. They also wish to thank Pastor Poganski of St. Paul's

Lutheran church for his thoughtful visits through the years. However, they especially wish to thank longtime caregiver, Luisa Siketi, for her five years of devotion to taking care of "Mom" with

cheerfulness, love, and respect.

Interment will be on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 1:00 at the New Auburn Cemetery, 1040 Collins Dr., Auburn, CA.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Chapel of the Hills, 1331 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA. (530) 885-377