Ruth Grace Shaff

Ruth Grace Shaff, age 87, went to heaven November 2, 2025. She was born in Kenmore, NY August 11, 1938, to Otto and Sophie Walter. The family moved to Inglewood, CA, where Ruth attended Culter Academy, a private Christian school. She made lifelong friends and was an active participant in the round robin letters.

She met Wayne in 1957 and after a whirlwind courtship, they married that same year. The family moved to Minnesota in 1970 and joined Berean Baptist Church.

Ruth loved everyone. She loved her Berean friends, Bible study friends, neighbors, Homemakers group, co-workers, children’s friends, the wait people at Jensen’s and the ladies at Ficus & Fig. The family spent many holidays with total strangers Ruth invited to dinner.

Ruth’s ministry was her cards and letters to hundreds of people. She wrote words of encouragement and talked about her daily walk with Jesus. A card from Ruth was always filled with love. Her work in prison ministry and as a Sunday School teacher will be remembered by many.

Over the years, after being the best stay-at-home mom, she worked various jobs: aide at Parkview Elementary, Bachman’s garden center, Bonnie Bell Cosmetics, and Carson Pirie Scott. Ruth was proud to have been a foster mom over the years, and an interim mom to 2 foreign exchange students. After retiring from Northwest Airlines, she became “Nanny Granny” to her 3 grandchildren. She claimed that was her favorite job!

Ruth is survived by her husband, Wayne; children, Leanna, Brett, and Jana (Mike) Stern; her loves, Emma (Nick) Mangano, Andrew (Alli), and Addison Grace; and she was thrilled to be a loving great-grandma to Cora Ruth and Laurel Josephine.

She is preceded in death by her infant sons, Andrew and Michael; her brother, Kenneth; sister-in-law, Phyllis; and niece, Christine.

Thank you to the Park Nicollet hospice team, Sydney, Jane, and Annie, who walked with us on this journey; and to Angel and Vanessa and the care team at For Kindness Sakes for being our angels on earth.

Memorial Service at 2pm on Thurs., Nov. 13, 2025, at Berean Baptist Church, 309 Co. Rd. 42 E., Burnsville, with visitation one hour prior. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.

“This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.”

Arrangements by Starkson Family ~ Anderson Chapel of Apple Valley.