George Michael 'Mink' Ruhland

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Ruhland, George Michael "Mink" George Ruhland, 92, died March 24 at the Hilltop Health Care Center in Watkins, MN. George was born May 5th, 1927 in Eden Valley, Minnesota to Michael and Wilhelmina (Minnie Fink) Ruhland. In 1935, at the age of 8 he lost his father in the midst of the depression. His maternal grandmother Lucy Fink became an integral part of the household and helped his mother and family soldier on. George looked for opportunities to get ahead even at a young age. At 14, he convinced his hesitant mother to expand their tobacco acreage with commitments from three neighbor women to help with this labor-intensive endeavor. His plan worked, enabling his family to pay off the farm mortgage and buy a car. In addition, George started live trapping mink in the nearby creek, setting off a career in the mink breeding business. Although he had been prepared to report for duty in World War II, it ended before that was required. Unfortunately, that meant he was still eligible to be called during the Korean War. A good friend who had previously served under harrowing conditions warned him to avoid the army if at all possible. Therefore, George enlisted in the navy, where he trained and served as an internal communications specialist. During his four year stint, George had some adventures. Due to his unfamiliarity with high tides, he almost got stranded and covered by freezing water while trying to fish on a shore excursion when his ship was stationed off Greenland. Fortunately a local native saw his predicament and insisted he get to safety in time. On another leave, he and other sailors learned that the subway was the better way to get around New York when they had received tickets for a game in the 1953 Dodgers/Yankees World Series After his return to Eden Valley, he met up and fell in love with former town-mate Mary Lou Schreiner, who was head nurse of the pediatric unit at St. Cloud Hospital. They married in 1956. George revived the mink breeding and fur production business and became an innovator in this field. Eventually he and his brother Jack established a plant that produced mink feed for many Minnesota mink ranchers. He also co-founded a mink pelting business as the years progressed. George served on the local school board, the city council and the county REA board. He was also a crop farmer, one of the first in the area to use a center point irrigation system. When he wasn't hard at work, George loved to fish, hunt, play cards, listen to the Twins, and invest in the stock market. He tried to pass on his love of fishing to his children, often taking several of them at a time to a local fishing hole, and teaching them how to set a bobber, bait a hook, and remove a catch. In his mid-fifties, George was diagnosed with early stage colon cancer. Due to complications from the surgery for its removal, he spent six months in the hospital, pulling through some close calls. After his release, with time and effort, he regained his strength. Throughout their lives, George and Mary Lou were faithful members of Assumption Catholic parish In Eden Valley. George sang in the choir, served on the church board and was an usher. George was preceded in death by his older siblings Ervin, Bernice Johnston, Mary McIntyre, Richard and his younger brother Jack (John). He is survived by loving wife Mary Lou, his 8 children David, Nancy, Bill (Laura), Robert (Betty), Debra (Paul) Trumm, Mike (Patty), Tom (Tammy) and Ken (Robin), 21 grandchildren Adam, Bradley, Craig Foster, Douglas Trumm, Erica, Fabian, Gabrielle, Hannah Trumm, Ian Foster, Jared, Kendria, Lucas, Madison, Nicole, Olivia, Patrick, Quintin, Richard, Samuel, Timothy and Ulton, and great-grandchildren Malcolm, Ivan and Addison. A private burial will be held at this time, with a memorial service to be held in the summer.

Published on March 29, 2020