Edgar "Eddie" Ruud, age 85, of Twin Valley, MN died Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the Twin Valley Living Center, Twin Valley.

Edgar Russel Ruud was born on August 2, 1927 on the home farm in Wild Rice Township in Norman County, MN. He was the sixth of Henry and Annie (Kjeldson) Ruud's eleven children. Eddie attended the Lincoln School in rural Twin Valley from 1935 until 1943. One of his first jobs was in Montana, where he drove his 1938 Ford with new tires, and worked at the Hungry Horse Dam. He also worked at many other places in North Dakota. On October 20, 1951 Eddie was united marriage to Marlene Rae Sargent and they were blessed with four children: Randi Rae, Kelly Russell, Kevin Richard, and Robin Ranette. From 1954 until 1959, Eddie was employed on the Iron Range in Northern Minnesota. In 1957, he proudly bought his first new car, a Ford with six cylinders and overdrive. In 1959, Eddie and Marlene purchased a farm place from Leslie Prestegaard in Norman County where they lived for 29 years. They moved into Twin Valley in 1988. Eddie worked construction for many years. He helped build the Hector Airport Tower and West Acres Shopping Center in Fargo, ND. He worked for Meinecke-Johnson Company and T.F. Powers Construction, and was a member of the Carpenters Union for 35 years. His favorite job was when he worked in maintenance for Lutheran Memorial Homes from 1990 until 1999. In 1999, Eddie suffered a stroke but continued to live at home, where he watched out the window or sat in front of the drive way - keeping a close eye on what was going on in the neighborhood. After a fall, he entered the Twin Valley Living Center on September 29, 2005 where he has made his home since.
Eddie loved fishing with Sammy, hunting with the boys, and especially enjoyed his elk hunting trips with Bobby. Family was very important to Eddie.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marlene of Twin Valley; daughter, Randi Charleston of Moorhead, MN; sons: Kelly (Kristi) Ruud and Kevin (Diane) Ruud, all of Twin Valley; daughter, Robin (Jeff) Aamot of Bismarck, ND; nine grandchildren: Gregory Joe (Bernadette) Ruud of Cincinnati, OH, Carly (Todd) Olson of West Fargo, ND, Troy Charleston of Fargo, Chad (Erika) Ruud of Twin Valley, Henry Ruud of Bemidji, MN, Sheena Ruud of Hawley, MN, Anjanette Aamot of Menoken, ND, Ciera (Tyler) Carson of Bismarck, and Holly Ruud of Twin Valley. Five great grandchildren: Brynn and Tavyn Carson, Jacob Ruud, and Madeline and Isabella Ruud; and two step-great grandchildren, Kayla and Shantell Olson. He is also survived by his sisters, Dorothy Seckinger of Gering, NE and Carol Engen of Gary, MN; sisters-in-law, Ilene Ruud of Twin Valley and Joyce Ruud of Isanti, MN; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Morris, Harding, Don, Abner, and Robert; and three sisters: Doris, Lula, and Hazelann.

A private family service was held with inurnment taking place at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Twin Valley.