Lucille M. Ramstad

Ramstad, Lucille M. Age 91 of Edina, died July 15, 2020, at The Willows in Vernon Terrace in Edina. Preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Philip J. Ramstad, her parents, Clara and Ernest Mortvedt, sister Carole Petersen and brother John Mortvedt. Survived by her sisters Audrey (Duane) Mortensen, Marilyn Terwilliger of Eden Prairie, Jeanne Steinharter and brother Bob (Becky) Mortvedt of Buffalo; sons Jeff (Sheryle), David (Joy) and Greg Baker, Evan Ramstad of St. Louis Park and daughter Kari (Jerry) Sweeney of Eden Prairie; grandchildren Ramsey, Natalie, Courtney, Jerome, Nicole and Ryan; and beloved nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces.

Lucy worked as a bookkeeper and secretary for churches, doctors and executives. And, in 55 years of marriage to Phil, she befriended and helped serve parishioners in the five churches he led. She was the oldest of seven children who grew up on the family farm near Dell Rapids, S.D. Lucy attended a one-room country school for part of her elementary education. She graduated from Dell Rapids High School, then earned an associate degree at what was then South Dakota State College. There, she met and married Joseph Philip Baker in 1947. They moved to Pittsburgh and divorced in 1955. She met and married Phil, who grew up in St. Paul, in 1962. They later lived in Hartford, Connecticut, Akron, Ohio, Grinnell, Iowa and East Lansing, Michigan, before retiring to Eden Prairie in 1994. Everywhere she lived, Lucy gave time and energy to church, hospital and service organizations. In Iowa and Michigan, she served on boards of the state conferences of the United Church of Christ. She and Phil and a friend co-founded Grinnell Regional Hospice. She was vice president of the Greater Hartford Council of Churches and president of the Akron General Medical Center Service League. In retirement, she volunteered for more than 15 years at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park and served as a deacon and moderator of Chapel Hills United Church of Christ in Edina. As Phil engaged in post-retirement ministry as a supply and interim pastor, she accompanied and assisted him, building friendships in dozens of UCC churches in the Twin Cities and around Minnesota. All along, she stuffed an address book/calendar with birthdates and anniversaries of the people she met. She amazed relatives, friends and church acquaintances with the cards and notes she routinely sent. Her family will remember her humor and laugh, elegant style, love for hymns and classical music, delicious cookies and lefse and the way she always put others before herself. One of her greatest joys was helping to raise her grandchildren. One of her greatest strengths was empathy for anyone facing personal difficulty.

Her children are grateful for the grace of the people of Chapel Hills, Vernon Terrace and Park Nicollet/Methodist Hospice. They will always remember the compassion and hard work of LifeSprk nurses and caregivers in The Willows.

Donations in Lucy's memory may be sent to Chapel Hills UCC, Edina, Stordahl Lutheran Cemetery, Dell Rapids, S.D., or the charity of your choice.

A graveside service will be on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at Stordahl Cemetery, Dell Rapids. The time of the service is currently pending.

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