Ruth Marie Sylte

Ruth Marie Sylte, aged 63, died peacefully in her home around January 11-12, 2024, with her faithful companion dog Runa by her side. Family and friends grieve her sudden and unexpected death, causes unknown. A memorial for Ruth will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024, at Mindekirken Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church in South Minneapolis with visitation at 5PM and service at 6PM. Ruth was born on 10 March 1960 in Minneapolis/St. Paul, the first child of Rev. Leonard Vernon Sylte and Agnes Karoline Hansen Sylte. The family moved several times until arriving in Nashville, TN early in her primary years. Ruth attended school there, graduating from Father Ryan High School in 1978. She then headed north to St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, to study religion and political science. Ruth, a coloratura soprano, shared her gift of music singing in the Manitou Singers and Chapel Choir at the college. St. Olaf was a huge influence on Ruth's life as she formed many lifelong friendships, traveled to the Middle East which resulted in a love of international studies, and started her connection with everything Norwegian. Ruth's first job following graduation in 1982 was with the admissions department where she encouraged students to learn at the college she loved. A varied career path and personal relationships took her from Northfield to the Middle East, then to the Twin Cities. She moved on to California (La Jolla, Irvine, and Palo Alto), then back to Northfield, finally settling back in Minneapolis. While she loved Norway and the Middle East, Minnesota was always her home. Her passion for higher education and international study led her to work in admissions counseling and as an international studies coordinator. She later became a contractor in project management. Ruth's passions were well known among her friends. In her later years, she adopted an Icelandic Sheepdog named Runa who became her faithful companion in life. She loved dogs and owned two huskies before adopting Runa. Ruth's love of Norwegian culture led her to hardanger fiddling and Norwegian folkdancing. She travelled to Norway to dance with her dance partner Mikel. Ruth was an early-adapter of social media, using it to share her opinions on liberal politics, women's equality, and the church. Ruth shared her leadership skills by serving on church committees and community boards wherever she lived. She was planning to go on the advisory counsel at her senior living community in the coming year. Ruth is survived by her dog Runa (now with her designated alternate caregiver), her brother Mark Iver Sylte and his wife Hsiaoling Chung, their children Alexandra Kristiana, Leandra Celeste, Karstan Bjorne, and Cedrik Thorstein, as well as numerous cousins on both the Sylte and Hansen sides of the family in Florida, New York, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Canada and Norway. Though Ruth did not leave any indications of a preferred charity, her passions were well known to her friends. Donations are preferred, in lieu of flowers, to the charity of your choice.

Tributes

Ruth Marie Sylte

March 10, 1960 - January 12, 2024

Tributes

Ruth Marie Sylte

March 10, 1960 - January 12, 2024

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