Ruth Lillian Lundgren

Ruth was born in Cedar Rapids, IA, the youngest of 4 daughters and the first to be born in a hospital! She grew up on a farm near Alburnett, IA, was a high school cheerleader, and editor of the yearbook. Ruth graduated with honors from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA, where she was recognized in Who’s Who in American Universities.

Perhaps the most memorable event at Upper Iowa was meeting the love of her life, John, in the second semester of her freshman year. They dated, and John gave her his “ring” during her sophomore year. They got pinned her junior year and he “popped the question” her senior year.

They married and moved to Independence, IA where she taught language arts in the middle school. They spent summers in Greeley, CO for John’s Masters program where she took classes as well. Those summers started lifelong friendships.

Their first child, John Alan, Jr. was born in 1969, and they moved to Lake Villa, IL. Peter Lewis was born in 1973, and they moved to Antioch in 1978. The family grew with 5 grandchildren, Evan, Jack, Nick, Hazel and Noelle, filling both Ruth and John’s life with joy. Their home was filled with pictures of their many adventures together. They always modeled unconditional love for every member of their family.

Ruth was a Mom – June Cleaver style. She was “all in” with everything her boys were involved in. Their summers were filled with road trip vacations, always including a stop to learn something. Annual family trips included swings through MN, WI, IA, MO and on to TX.

In her spare time, Ruth worked at Kiddie University. Then, as an entrepreneur, opened her own pre-school “I Can Do” in the lower level of their Antioch home. When Prince of Peace Catholic School wanted to add a kindergarten, they called on Ruth to create the program. She became the first teacher and saw it through to success. After retirement, she worked at the Lake Villa Library.

Ruth was never idle and was always making dear friends in her many activities: Welcome Wagon, Book Clubs, her church and bible study group, AAUW, and tending to her flower gardens. Once you were Ruth’s friend – it was for life. Friends didn’t come and go in her life - the circle just grew bigger. Her home was her castle, and she made it a welcome place for family and friends.

In 2011, Ruth and John packed up everything and moved to CO. They decided living near Peter and much closer to John allowed them to spend time with grandchildren and be involved in their activities. Ruth said this was her “last stop”, and she spent the rest of her life near her family. Once again, they were both “all in”, and have made so many dear friends in Castle Rock.

Ruth and John loved to travel across the globe. They visited all current Presidential Libraries, and the capitals of all 50 States. Ruth loved spring break travel to southern states to enjoy the green grass and budding trees. They became globetrotters, with stops in China to see the Great Wall, Egypt seeing the Nile and Pyramids, then to Sweden, Denmark and the fiords of Norway and tasting chocolate in Belgium. From Italy to England and up to Scotland, then time in Paris and Spain. On to the Caribbean via cruise, then Costa Rica and even a few minutes in Nicaragua!

Ruth loved sports – from her kids and grandkids games to college and the pros. She migrated from a Bears fan to a die-hard Bronco’s fan and watched her final Bronco’s game just days before she passed.

John and Ruth celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a beautiful reception at Bear Dance Golf Course, surrounded by family and friends. Ruth’s 70th birthday was a bit smaller affair at Brown’s Palace, complete with a familiar looking chauffeur.

You can’t speak of Ruth (and John) without mentioning their role as Aunt and Uncle. Their impact on the many lives, across many states, and spanning generations was significant. This included not only nieces and nephews, but “greats” and “great greats” and “great great greats”. What a legacy! Ruth knew them by name and made the effort to meet almost all of them despite being many miles apart.

Ruth battled breast cancer like everything else in her life – with courage and grace. Diagnosed in 2004, she survived and thrived. With determination she fought a much more difficult battle with tongue cancer in 2020. On October 20, 2021, surrounded by her family and thoughts from her many friends, Ruth passed peacefully, with the knowledge that she lived a great life filled with love, and made a difference to so many others.

A private internment will be held at a later date.

A celebration fund in memory of Ruth has been established at

New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3737 New Hope way, Castle Rock, CO 80109