Ruth Merel Allen

Ruth M. Allen, age 91, of Litchfield, died on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at the Bethany Assisted Living in Litchfield. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in Grove City. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Monday, January 14th at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral and Cremation Service. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Interment will be in the Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield. Ruth Merel McCarty Christenson Allen, the daughter of Frank and Irene (Hankey) McCarty, was born on August 9, 1927 in McIntosh, MN. She attended McIntosh school and worked for B and B’s Lunch. On December 16, 1945 she was united in marriage to Elmer Christenson in Winger. They moved to Lake Ripley in 1949. Ruth worked at 3M for 30 years. Elmer died in September of 1976 and on February 14, 1981 she married Andy Allen. They continued living on Lake Ripley until the late 1980’s. She retired from 3M and they spent 13 years living between Texas and Grove City. While in Texas she worked for HEB grocery store for five years. Ruth graduated from McIntosh High School in May of 2014. They then moved around the area to fit health needs. Ruth was a member of the First Baptist Church in Grove City and the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed crafts, sewing, traveling and music. Ruth loved her animals. She is survived by her children Betty (Richard) Allen of Litchfield, Linda (Gary) Prieve of Litchfield, JoAnn Celander (Connie) of Grove City, David (Elizabeth) Christenson of Litchfield; step daughter Dana (Doug) Varner; 9 grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 3 step-great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Elmer and Andy, grandson Ryan Allen, step-daughter Dawn Albokri and her brother Harold McCarty. Memorials are preferred to the Humane Society and also to the C.A.R.E program in Grove City.