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Ilene Mae Sargent was the first of four daughters born to Maurice and Mildred Sargent in Ada, MN in April of 1931 and was baptized in May.  They lived in Ada and Borup, moving to the farm east of Twin Valley in 1944. Ilene was confirmed in 1946 at Wild Rice Lutheran Church, rural Twin Valley. She attended Home Lake Country School, Borup Public Grade School, Banner Country School #77 and Twin Valley High School, graduating with the class of 1949.

After graduation she sold magazines on the road and later clerked at Lester Sheldon's Red Owl Store in Twin Valley. She married Donald Ruud on December 10, 1950 at Wild Rice Lutheran Church. They made their home in Flom Township. To this union two children were born, Douglas and Donelle. Don farmed until his retirement in 1986 and Ilene was active in helping with the farming operation. During retirement, Don and Ilene enjoyed traveling in their motor home. Ilene continued living on the farm after Don passed away in 2003. She moved off the farm and into the Normandy Apartments in 2013, the Twin Valley Living Center in 2014 and the Ulen Viking Manor in 2018.

Ilene loved, enjoyed and appreciated her family and friends. She was involved in activities including the neighborhood Tuesday morning coffee club, Wild Rice WELCA and quilting, community skits, concerts, plays, bowling, Mary Kay, various singing groups, volunteering with Lutheran Brotherhood, picking ditches, helping assemble the Wild Rice Cemetery book and publishing a family history book.  She marveled at the moon and stars and would call her grandchildren to step outside and view the Big Dipper or a full moon. Surrounded by coffee drinkers, she always preferred a good cup of hot black tea.

Ilene is survived by her son Doug (Sandy) Ruud, Twin Valley, MN; daughter Donelle "Dee" Rodmyre, St. Cloud, MN; three grandchildren: Ivory (Dan Hoseck) Ruud, Hopkins, MN; Brandon (Jen) Ruud, Hawley, MN; Megan (Quinn) Thompson, Portland, OR; two sisters: LeAnn (Tom) Erickson, Cottage Grove, MN and Sheila (Joe) Devitt, Brandon, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Don, sister Marlene and son-in-law Dave Rodmyre.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to or volunteer for your favorite charity. Some of Ilene's favorites are Wild Rice Lutheran Church, Wild Rice Cemetery Fund and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday July 1, 2021, at Wild Rice Lutheran Church, rural Twin Valley.  A time of gathering will be held from 5:00 pm until 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at the Anderson Family Funeral Home in Twin Valley.  Inurnment will take place at Wild Rice Lutheran Cemetery.