Ruth Esther Vande Kamp

Ruth Esther Vande Kamp, age 84 of North Branch, passed away April 20, 2012. Ruth was born on September 11, 1927 in Mason City, Iowa to Harold and Rosella Ames. At age 1 ½ years, Ruth lost her mother to bone cancer. Ruth lived with her grandparents on a farm between Mason City and Clear Lake, Iowa. When Ruth was three, her dad married Ruth Kilmer who became her loving mother. The family moved to Clear Lake where her dad was an auctioneer and owned a sales barn. When Ruth was 12, the family moved to Albert Lea , MN where Harold owned the sales barn. Ruth graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1945. She attended Mankato State College for 1 ½ years until the army came home. Ruth and Lambert “Bert” Vande Kamp were married November 3, 1946.

They lived in Hollandale, Minnesota for three years where Bert worked at Verdarn’s Garage and raised a few acres of onions on the site. In 1950, the onion price was very good, so they were able to buy a 40 acre farm east of Ellendale, Minnesota where they milked a few cows and had a few pigs. On March 1, 1952, Ruth and Bert bought a 93 acre farm between Cambridge and North Branch on Highway 95. Three sons, Gary, Bob, and Bruce were born in Hollandale and Ellendale, two sons Ron and Ross were born and grew up at the farm outside of North Branch. They learned to work helping to milk cows and haying as well as helping other farmers with their haying.

In 1973, (July 4th) an auction was held selling everything including the cows. In 1976, Ruth and Bert moved closer to North Branch on another 40 acres. A new house was built and some sheds. It was here they spent their remaining days with their families near. Ruth is preceded in death by her husband Lambert Sr. “Bert” and grandson Kevin Vande Kamp. She is survived by five sons Gary (Gail), Lambert Jr. “Bob”, Ron (Kathy), Bruce (Carol), and Ross (Debbie); 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, and school Classmate Fern Shea. Visitation 5-8 p.m. Monday April 23 at Grandstrand Funeral Home in North Branch and one hour prior to service at church. Funeral Service 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at Harris Covenant Church in Harris, Minnesota. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery in North Branch. Condolences may be left online at www.grand strandfh.com.