Ruth's Retirement

For more than 25 years Ruth Erickson has worked tirelessly to make sure all the campers and staff at Camp Mishawaka were well fed- and fed well . Join me as Julie and I help Ruth launch into her retirement, and enjoy some much needed rest- and hopefully some travel that includes visiting her family in Mexico.

Ruth has an amazing story. She moved to Northern MN from Oaxaca, MX - two young kids in tow- to marry her Swedish pen-pal, Albert Erickson. The two made a life working his families dairy farm and raising their children. Ruth often worked two or three jobs to make ends meet. When she found Camp Mishawaka, she found her "place" and whether it was rolling homemade enchiladas for 150 campers, or planning the banquet Ruth never slowed down. Ruth worked for the school district in the winter and Camp in the summer.

Never one to lose her positive attitude, Ruth persevered through a reversal of fortune in the family's dairy farm.  Ruth announced her retirement from Camp Mishawaka in 2019 and hopes to get to spend time in Mexico visiting family and friends. Despite her tireless work Ruth finds herself with limited resources to make this trip. The cost of maintaining the homestead, and other unexpected expenses has left her struggling to make ends meet. 

Join us in helping Ruth make this trip, and visit her family in her home country! Anything is a great help and will be greatly appreciated as we work to provide Ruth with this opportunity to visit her family in 2020. What a way to say "thank you" for the countless meals she has prepared over the years!

Steve and Julie Purdum