Shakopee Valley News - Help us remember Ruth Anne - Comments

I was shocked and saddened

Pat Minelli — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:58:17 -0600

I was shocked and saddened to hear last week of the devastating loss of Ruth Anne from the lives of so many in our community and in her home community of Indiana. I had the privilege of meeting Ruth Anne when she took my Community Ed Kettlebell class this summer. While she humorously detailed her experience in her blog, she was a dedicated, hardworking student who did not shy from standing front and center for every class. She swung that kettlebell as well as she slung funny comments my way. However, the thing that struck me most about her was the support and encouragement that she and her friends offered to others in the class. She was truely a class act whose words and impressions have positively impacted those who she came into contact with.

Laurie Bushlack

Ruth Anne My Friend- My

dadams — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:38:27 -0600

Ruth Anne
My Friend- My Neighbor

On behalf of myself and my family I wish to express our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the Lipka, Long, Whitaker and Cobb families. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Living close to Ruth Anne we were able to enjoy many outdoor springs and summers together. We would spend evenings hanging outside with the dogs, having dinner and talking on the front steeps about our families and friends.

Ruth Anne was much admired, much loved and she'll be greatly missed. She has left behind a legacy of good memories for those who knew her and for those who didn’t.

I would like to pass this on:
"Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to
new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom.
Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.
They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints
on our hearts, and we are never ever the same."
~ Flavia Weedn

With Love
Danielle & Jason Adams

So many of the testimonials

Pat Minelli — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:55:46 -0600

So many of the testimonials I've read about Ruth Anne at this website start out with "I met Ruth Anne when she interviewed me for.....". Our story is the same. Ruth Anne came to our business at the beginning of October to do a story and we sat down with her and talked and laughed. I am profoundly saddened by the death of this wonderful woman although I only met her that one time for an hour. I truly feel that I have lost a friend yet I barely knew her. She seems to have had this effect on so many people. She was fun to be around, engaging, and truthful. The story that she did on our family and our business was wonderfully written and when I told her we would be out of town when the paper came out, she asked me how many copies I wanted and she would save them for me. How many people do you know who would go out of their way like that for a stranger? Ruth Anne seemed to be a truly kind and caring person and the world is a darker place with her loss. Our prayers go out to her family and co-workers.

May God grant you His peace at this time,
Merry and Scott Theis

Ruth Anne was a good friend

Pat Minelli — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:46 -0600

Ruth Anne was a good friend of mine. I met her when she first moved to Minnesota and started working at Kohl's. I always looked forward to the days that we were scheduled to work together. She was a hard-worker, but always found a way to make each day fun. She had the warmest smile and the greatest giggle. She never had a bad word to say about anyone. She was always so positive, supportive and encouraging.

I had Ruth Anne over to my home for dinner on 11/1. She spent the entire evening holding and rocking my newborn son. She gave me two adorable little sleeper outfits for my son.

I saw firsthand the connection between Kelsey and Ruth Anne. I want Kelsey to know how much her mother loved her. Ruth Anne spent the evening excitedly sharing her plans for the future. She spoke of how much she was looking forward to moving back to Indiana and spending more time with Kelsey.

Debbie Jucha

Ruth Anne was just a

Pat Minelli — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:57:04 -0600

Ruth Anne was just a wonderful lady, always smiling and alway full of life.
I'll never forget during my time working with her at the Times-Union in Warsaw how she could always make you smile and laugh.
I also remember how much she truly loved being a mom and how much
her daughter Kelsey meant to her.
My deepest sympathy goes out to everyone who held Ruth Anne near
and dear in their hearts. My prayers are with all of you during this
time.
Please remember the Ruth Anne that I will, someone who was a blessing
to all of us who were fortunate to cross paths with her.

Scott Davidson, Sportswriter, South Bend Tribune, South Bend, IN

Ruth Anne Maddox always had

Pat Minelli — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:57:55 -0600

Ruth Anne Maddox always had a smile and never a bad word. I would get to know her over a period of time since we would be at many of the events she was covering for the Valley News and I was videotaping for public-access TV. I was covering the Shakopee High School play on Friday, and felt her presence, since she possibly would of been there covering the event for the Valley News.

We will miss her.

Don McNeil, Shakopee

Dearest Staffers of the

Pat Minelli — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:41:45 -0600

Dearest Staffers of the Shakopee Valley News, Family members of Ruth Anne, and her Friends:

Words cannot express my sorrow for the senselessness of your loss of such a bright, beautiful, caring woman like Ruth Anne Maddox. May Christ hold you in His arms and heal you at such a difficult time.
Although I did not know her personally, many staffers I work with here at the South Bend (IN) Tribune know her from her days at the Warsaw Times Union and have very fond memories of her. One of my editors even remembers her from high school.
I wish you Christ's peace at this difficult time.
Barbara J. Allison, Photojournalist, South Bend Tribune

Ruth Anne is my friend and

finfan920 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:56:00 -0600

Ruth Anne is my friend and we met when she lived in Warsaw, Indiana. I work at the Warsaw Police Department and we became friends when she would come to our department and gather the news for the day.
Her favorite saying was that she was "delightful and everyone loved her", and by reading all these comments I see that she was loved in Minnesota as well as in Indiana.
We had several going away parties for Ruth Anne before she left, and at her last party I was feeling really sad because I was losing my good friend to another life. I was also going through a divorce at that time and felt like everyone was leaving me to start new lives. Needless to say I did not want Ruth Anne to come to Minnesota, I wanted her to stay here.
She left for Minnesota and I was worried that she would not make many friends, but after reading all the comments I see that she made many, many friends and touched so many lives.
I am glad that you all had a chance to meet Ruth Anne, and that you will miss her as much as I will.

Lynne Christiansen
Warsaw, Indiana

Being teenagers in the 80's,

Pat Minelli — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:40:50 -0600

Being teenagers in the 80's, we were both totally in love with Dr. Noah Drake. We ran out to buy Rick Springfield's album at the record store at the Mall. We thought we looked cute in our Cyndi Lauper clothes and out big hair.(Fur Sure)We spend most our time together giggling.We could spend 20 minutes in a good giggle over nothing really that funny. As adults we still giggle whenever we would get together or talk on the phone. We would send each other cards with 80 year old women dancing or tanning at the pool, with the comment" that will be us". I am so sad we wont grow old together.
I struggle to not be angry, but one look at her picture and my heart fills full of love, and a little giggle. Truly a loving person through to the core. In my 44 years on this earth, I have never met a more loving person. I am so bless to have had her as my best friend.
Colleen Johnston-Hatami

I want always to remember my

fawn run farm — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:23:19 -0600

I want always to remember my dear cousin "Baby Ruth". All the kind words and stories of sincerity will hopefully relieve some of the anguish and devastation my family is experiencing. I can't remember Ruth Anne without a gigantic smile on my face. I am sure that she is in heaven dancing the Macarana. Love you forever Ruth Anne. Nancy

I worked with Ruth Anne on

Pat Minelli — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:37:07 -0600

I worked with Ruth Anne on several projects while she was with the Valley News. She was always so pleasant, organized and positive. Ruth Anne was a bright, spirited and beautiful person with a great sense of humor.

Last year, Ruth Anne interviewed my daughter for the Valley News. The story, about my daughter's acting career, brought out the very best in my daughter. I wasn't sure what Ruth Anne could ask my daughter during the interview that hadn't already been printed, but Ruth Anne knew all of the right questions.

Ruth Anne wrote so many heart-warming, compassionate stories over the years, and that's how she lived her life. I will miss her greatly, and will be reminded of this every time I pull into the Valley News parking lot since we parked right next to each other nearly every day. I always chuckled at her dogs' nose and foot prints on her back window.

Still in shock,
Lorris Thornton

Geez! After forcing myself

mats12 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:15:53 -0600

Geez! After forcing myself to read all of that, I'm bawling. If only I could imagine people saying all that nice stuff about me when I pass away. Wow!

Thank you for the

mats12 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:57:39 -0600

Thank you for the condolences. We at Southwest Newspapers are a sad bunch right now. Readers from Jordan, where I work, might be familiar with Ruth Anne Maddox's name, as she has gotten an occasional byline in the Jordan Independent and she posted frequent -- almost daily at times -- comments on the Web site. Here are some of her recent comments, which help me remember her fondly:

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/mathias-baden/im-uncle#comment-4854;

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/forums/youth-sports/are-your-kids-ha...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/forums/recommend-it/chewy-sweetarts#...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/mathias-baden/how-ill-get-my-air-jor...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/forums/local-games/have-good-winter-...

- http://www.jordannews.com/news/entertainment/columnist-extends-his-commu...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/brandon/too-many-junk-e-mails-vacati...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/brandon/highway-169#comment-4374;

- http://www.jordannews.com/news/animals/city-considers-dangerous-dog-ordi...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/brandon/lunch-what-s-big-deal-anyway...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/mathias-baden/watch-swimmers#comment...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/forums/recommend-it/what-are-you-rea...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/mathias-baden/its-over-kiss-twins-pl...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/brandon/breakfast-lunch-and-dinner-i...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/brandon/stored-store-knowledge#comme...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/brandon/wedding-update-long-weekend#...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/forums/todays-topic/roger-clemens-fo...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/forums/todays-topic/are-you-afraid-d...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/forums/todays-topic/morn-ohhhhhhhhhh...

- http://www.jordannews.com/community/forums/todays-topic/really-fast-typi...

- and http://www.jordannews.com/community/brandon/no-parking#comment-4020.

I miss Ruth Anne and her

steinie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:54:40 -0600

I miss Ruth Anne and her visits to my cube to ask "Does this outfit really match?" and our conversations about bad spellers. I miss her stories about weight-loss success and her daughter's text messages. I miss hearing about school board meetings and the man who makes soap. I miss seeing her chalky diet drinks in the fridge and watching her sneak up to scare our co-worker. I miss her quick wit, generous smile and her sparkly hippy skirt.

Today, I miss her squeaky black shoes. Rest in peace, Ruth Anne.

Lisa Steinbauer

Ruth Anne: I can't tell you

Randi Smith — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:05:40 -0600

Ruth Anne: I can't tell you how much I will miss you. Thank you for all of the smiles and joy you brought to work each day. I wish that I could have helped or done something. But I will never forget the foot prints you have left in my life. May the Lord keep you and guide you and may you rest in piece.

To her family: I pray that each of you find the peace in this hard time. I know what a loss this is for you, and hope that justice will be served.

Help us remember Ruth Anne

Pat Minelli — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:29:03 -0600

Dear Readers:

We at the Shakopee Valley News and Southwest Newspapers can't begin to thank you for the notes and words of kindness we've received regarding the tragic death of our dear friend and colleague, Ruth Anne Maddox. We are devastated by her loss and your outpouring of sympathy helps us cope and makes us realize how special Ruth Anne was to her readers and friends and acquaintences.