On August 27, 1934, Ruth Ann Fullner was born in Moline, Illinois, to Elmer Jeremiah Lindholm and Ellen Caroline Swanberg Lindholm. She passed away on April 3, 2026, at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, stories, strength, and unwavering love.

Ruth Ann discovered her calling early in life. During her junior and senior years of high school, she spent her summers working at Bethphage Mission in Axtell, Nebraska, caring for patients with mental and physical disabilities. That experience shaped her future, and in 1952 she enrolled in Nurses Training at Immanuel Deaconess Institute in Omaha, Nebraska two days before her 18th birthday. She proudly became a registered nurse in 1955 and went on to spend the next 40 years in the operating room — a place where her steady hands and calm presence made a profound difference. Throughout her journey, she formed deep, lasting bonds. She remained close with her friends Barbara, Doris, Lovena, Maureen, Marilyn, and Wava for over 70 years.

In 1956, Ruth Ann met and married Lyman Fullner. While living in Omaha, they welcomed Karen Marie in 1957 and Paul Edward in 1962. The family moved to Tempe, Arizona, in 1963, where Ruth Ann continued to build both her career and her family.

In 1967, she began working in the operating room at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Phoenix, where she remained for 30 years. When operating room certification was first introduced, she immediately took the exam and became a Certified Nurse in the Operating Room (C.N.O.R.). Ruth Ann was deeply committed to her profession — always eager to volunteer for nursing organizations and hospital committees. One of her proudest accomplishments was creating and implementing a program that dramatically reduced operating room delays and cancelled surgeries. Its success led to its adoption across VA hospitals nationwide.

Ruth Ann’s life was marked by both profound joy and heartbreaking loss. In 1972, the family endured the devastating death of Paul at the age of 9 after his long battle with leukemia. A few months later, they were blessed with the birth of Sharon Ruth, followed by Sandra Lynn in 1975 and David Lyman in 1977. In 2003, Ruth Ann faced another unimaginable loss with the passing of her daughter Karen at the age of 46.

Even in retirement, Ruth Ann’s commitment to service remained strong. She returned to nursing for four years as a Parish Nurse at King of Glory Lutheran Church, a role she cherished deeply. Following that, she dedicated much of her time to volunteering at the church and served as the leader of the Prayer team.

Beginning in 1997, she traveled to Colorado annually to support the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival started by her sister, Liz.

In 2014, she moved from Tempe to Erie, Colorado, to live with Sharon. During her time in Colorado, she was always ready for an adventure— hiking around Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park with her walker, determined to experience the beauty around her. In addition she became more involved with the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival and served on the Board of Directors of the Scandinavian Alliance of Colorado. Her contributions to the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival spanned an impressive 25 years - never missing a festival!

Four years ago the two relocated to West Orange, New Jersey, to be closer to David and his family. Her zest for life never faded. She cherished annual trips to the beach and, even at 84 years old, delighted in taking a refreshing dip in the ocean.

Despite the hardships she endured, Ruth Ann never lost her gentle, accepting, and loving nature. She met every challenge with grace and perseverance. She was an avid storyteller sharing her knowledge of Jenny Lind and family history to anyone who would listen. She also had a deep appreciation for capturing life’s moments, building a collection of photographs that reflect a life rich in love, family, friendship, and adventure.

Though Ruth Ann has left this world, her legacy lives on in the lives she shaped, the memories she created, and the adventurous spirit she passed down. Her children and loved ones will carry her lessons with them always.

Ruth Ann will be deeply missed by her three surviving children, her twelve grandchildren, twenty-two great‑grandchildren, and seven great‑great‑grandchildren, all of whom carry forward her strength, compassion, and love of family. May her memory bring comfort to all who knew her.

There will be two celebrations of her life. The first celebration of her life will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Summit, NJ on Saturday June 6th at 11 a.m. The second celebration of her life will be held at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe, AZ on Saturday August 8th at 11 a.m. All are welcome. Memories and condolences may be shared on shookscedargrove.com.

Source: https://www.shookscedargrove.com/obituaries/Ruth-Ann-Fullner?obId=48036603