George Paul Ramseth, 100, of Redwood Falls died Thursday, March 4, 2010 at Redwood Area Hospital. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls with Rev. Joy Ekstedt and Rev. Bill Klavetter officiating. Burial, with military honors, will in the Redwood Falls Cemetery.
The family requests memorials be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund.
Arrangements are with the Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Redwood Falls. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelsonmartinfuneralservice.com.
George P. Ramseth, the son of Rev. Ivar and Bertha (Mason) Ramseth, was born September 11, 1909 in Minneapolis. He grew up in Orfordville, Wisc. and received his elementary and part of his high school education there. George attended Waseca High School his junior and senior years, graduating in June 1927. He then furthered his education at St. Olaf College in Northfield where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1931. George was hired as high school principal, teacher, and athletic coach at Buffalo Lake High School in 1931.
On June 19, 1935, George married Arlene Marie Zimmerman in Brownton. The family moved to Hutchinson in 1936 where he was high school principal and teacher. At the same time, George was taking classes at the University of Minnesota. He graduated from there in 1938, having earned his Master of Arts degree and school administration credentials. George was hired as Superintendent of Schools in Sanborn in 1939, a position he held until 1944.
On July 1, 1944, George was inducted into the United States Navy, and Lieutenant Ramseth served in the South Pacific during World War II. Following his honorable discharge from active duty in 1946, George accepted employment as the high school principal at Redwood Falls, a position he held until his retirement in 1973.
George was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls (where he served on the board of trustees) and Our Saviors Lutheran Church at his winter home of McAllen, Texas. He belonged to the Melvin Daskam Post 38 of the American Legion where he served as commander. George was a charter and life member of the Redwood Falls Lions Club and served as its president. He belonged to the Minnesota and National associations of Secondary School Principals, the North Central Association of Secondary Schools, and the State Physical and Health Education Committee.
George was physically active his entire life and was regularly seen during his retirement years hiking around Redwood Falls and playing golf.
He is survived by his sons John and wife Mary of Victoria, Robert and wife Anne of Stockholm, Wisc., and Paul and wife Joyce of White Bear Lake; 10 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren; and his brother Rev. Rudolph Ramseth and wife Irene of Sacramento, Cal.
He was preceded in death by his wife Arlene in 1998; and his siblings Barbro and Signe.
Blessed be his memory.
