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Beverly Faye Ruff (Freeman) passed away peacefully with family present January 11, 2019.

“Bev” was born on December 29, 1932 to Mable and Lawrence Freeman of Chisago City, Minnesota. She was raised in Chisago City, confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church and graduated from Chisago High School. Beverly was married on Nov. 6, 1954 to John (Jack) Jarome Ruff.

The newlyweds moved to Phoenix, AZ, shortly after Jack was diagnosed with MS. Bev lovingly and courageously cared for Jack for 15 years as he battled his disease. She lost the love of her life in the spring of 1969.

Beverly worked for many years in the admitting department of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, AZ, earning the honor of Employee of the Year. Working the night shift at St. Joe’s and catering weddings during the day, Bev was an incredibly hard working woman. She had a gift for decorating fantastic wedding cakes. Beverly loved her dogs over the years, Duchess, Pepper, Ruffles and Mopsy. Proud of her Swedish heritage, Bev always had a lutefisk dinner at Christmas for friends and family (whether we liked it or not) and loved to watch our expressions as we tried to enjoy it! Her sense of humor will be greatly missed, and she carried it through into her final years.

She is preceded in death by husband Jack, parents Mabel and Lawrence, and brother Jimmy.

She is survived by brother and sister-in-law, John and Patricia Freeman, sister in-law LouAnn Freeman, and six nieces and nephews. A special thank you to the staff at Parmly on the Lake and Fairview Hospice, for the compassionate care they provided for Bev in her final years. There will be a short celebration of life at Zion Lutheran Church, Chisago City, January 26, 2019 at 1 p.m

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