Ruth I. Hendrickson, 87, of N-10330 Mt. Zion Drive, Ironwood Township, died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008, in Ironwood. The former Ruth Irene Helmes was one of eleven children born to Finnish immigrants August and Maria (Nevala) Helmes on Nov. 14, 1920, in Iron Belt, Wis., and graduated from Iron Belt High School in 1938. She married Phillip A. Hendrickson of Ironwood on Aug. 8, 1941 in Gladstone, Mich. They lived in Escanaba, Toledo, Ohio and Mt. Clemens, where Ruth worked for the Federal Government, Food and Gas Rationing Program until the end of World War II. They returned to Ironwood and built the family home on Mt. Zion Drive in 1950, where they raised their seven children. Ruth enrolled in secretarial and accounting classes at Gogebic Community College, and was employed at the Sears Store in downtown Ironwood, Ironwood Credit Bureau, and Newman's Furs. Following the death of her husband on Dec. 27, 1974, she was elected Ironwood Township Treasurer, a post which she held for eleven years until her retirement in 1987. In 1966 Ruth and Phillip purchased property at Lake Superior and operated Hendrickson Berry Farm, raising and selling strawberries at a roadside stand and in local markets. Later, they raised blueberries which Ruth continued to pick well into her eighties and sold them at the Iron County Farmers Market. Ruth and Phillip also owned and operated Alf Craft Signs, where she did most of the painting and finishing work on signs until turning the business over to her son Rolf. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Ironwood and sang in the choir for over 50 years. She also served as a deacon and elder and was a member of the Women's Association. Ruth enjoyed traveling, including wintering in Zephyrhills, Fla. for two years, was an avid reader and knitter, and enjoyed steak feeds and dancing at the Aurora Club. Her hobbies included making copper enameled jewelry, beaded jewelry and paper tole pictures, and she loved gardening and flowers. Ruth was a creative, hard working individual, inspiring each family member to exhibit a strong work ethic and independence. She deeply loved her family and friends, and will be missed by many. Surviving are three sons, Jeff (Diane Romatz), Marquette; Rolf (Beth), Warsaw, Poland; and Phillip (Carol), Ironwood Township; three daughters, Christine "Tina" (Brian) Ciesielczyk, Ironwood; Jane Hendrickson (Jeff Aho), West Bend, Wis.; and Lisa (Wayne) Jorgensen, St. Charles, ILL; nine grandchildren, Amy (Jason) Barkley, Boyne City, MI., Jacob Ciesielczyk, Glenwood Springs, Colo., Seth and Hannah Hendrickson, Warsaw, Rachel (Josh) Williams, Milwaukee, Rebecca (Chris) Quinlan, West Bend, Wis., Jamie Selitto, Nazareth, Pa., Cory Hendrickson, Dillsburg, Pa., and Liam Jorgensen, St. Charles; three great-grandchildren, Bryant Rowe, Ironwood, Jonathan Staniec, Nazareth, and Isabella Quinlan, West Bend; a brother, Alvar Helmes, Battleground, Wash.; three sisters, Lillian Anderson, Bessemer, Taimi Anderson, Ironwood, and Ina Lehocky, Waukesha, Wis.; numerous nieces and nephews; a special friend, Dell Fleury, of Ironwood; and her cat, "Chloe". Besides her parents and husband, Ruth was preceded in death by a son , Paul, in 2005; a granddaughter, Mindy Hendrickson, in 1974; four brothers, Toivo, Ahti, Norman and Edward Helmes; and two sisters, Tyyne Hendrickson and Toini Saari. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Ironwood, with Dr. Jack Fashbaugh officiating. Committal services will be held at the church, with luncheon to follow at Tacconelli's in downtown Ironwood. Spring burial will be in Sunset Acres Cemetery, Ironwood Township. Relatives and friends may call at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the First Presbyterian Church, 301 E. Aurora St., Ironwood, or the Ironwood Carnegie Library Renovation Fund, 235 E. Aurora St., Ironwood, MI 49938. To view Ruth's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc. of Ironwood.