Ruth Elaine Buckley

Ruth Elaine Buckley, 91, of Detroit Lakes, MN passed away the morning of June 3rd in St. Paul, MN, surrounded by her adoring family.  Ruth was born March 22, 1927 in Finley, North Dakota, to Elmer and Adeline (Peterson) Meldahl. She attended UND where she met her future husband Bill at a sorority dinner, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science. She and Bill married in Grand Forks, ND, moved to Duluth, MN and LaCrosse, WI, before settling in Detroit Lakes, MN in 1969.  While in Detroit Lakes, they raised their family and made numerous dear friends. Ruth worked for many years at the DL Clinic in Medical Records. She loved tending her beautiful garden, and making a warm and gracious home filled with joy and laughter. Smiles and kindness moved in her wake. She embraced life. She welcomed all…and we all had so much fun! She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, William Buckley, her parents, and her brother Jerry (Lilah) Meldahl. Ruth is survived by her children William (Kathy) Buckley, Becky (Tom) Hutchinson, Greg (Julie) Buckley, Paul Buckley, Tim (Carla) Buckley; her grandchildren Craig (Jessica) Buckley, Josh (Sara) Hutchinson, Anna (Jeremy) Ney, Jesse (Anna) Buckley, Karin Lewis, Kristen (Julian) Hutchinson, Adam Buckley, Joe (Agnes) Hutchinson, Jillian Buckley, Jonathon Buckley, and Jocelyn Buckley; and her great-grandchildren Linnea Gurno, Ben Gurno, William Buckley, Weston Lee, Holly Buckley, Chloe Buckley, Riley Ney, Jakob Hutchinson, Ethan Lee, Maisie Ney, and Tobias Buckley; her brother Steve (Jan) Meldahl, and her beloved nieces and nephews.