Ruth Elizabeth (Finley) Thomsen (1907 - 2005)

Born 17 Jul 1907 in Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Ronald Thomsen — married 12 Jun 1940 (to 2 Oct 2005) in Renville, Renville, Minnesota, United States

Descendants

Died 2 Oct 2005 at age 98 in Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alice Thomsen [send private message]

Biography

Ruth (Finley) Thomsen was born in Illinois.

Ruth (Finley) Thomsen was a Washingtonian.

Ruth Elizabeth Finley was born 17 Jul 1907 in Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, USA^[1].^[2]She was the daughter of Harry Finley and Nell Hampson.

In the 1910 census Ruth (age 2) was the daughter of Harry L Finley in Farm Ridge, La Salle County, Illinois, USA^[3] The household included:

• Harry L Finley 25, Head, Illinois, Farmer
• Nellie Finley 23, housewife, Illinois
• William Finley 5, son, Illinois Willard Finley

In the 1920 census Ruth (age 12) was the daughter of Harry L Finley in Verona Township, Faribault County, Minnesota, USA.^[4] The household included:

• Harry L Finley 35, head, farmer
• Nell R Finley 33, Housewife,
• Willard R Finley 15, son (in school), farmer's assistant
• Ruth E Finley 12, daughter (in school)
• Vister (Violet) B Finley 7, sister, Illinois, (in school) Violet Finley

In the 1930 census, Ruth (age 22) was the daughter of Harry L Finley in Winnebago, Faribault County, Minnesota, USA.^[5] The household included:

• Harry L Finley 45, head, Farmer-General Farming
• Nell Finley 43, wife,
• Williard Finley 25, son, believed to be helping with farm
• Ruth Finley 22, daughter, Teacher at public school
• Violet Finley 18, daughter

Ruth is now a High School Teacher and resided as a lodger in St. Clair, Marrissa County, Illinois, USA from 1935-1940.^[6]

Ruth Elizabeth Finley married Robert Ronald Thomsen on 12 Jun 1940 in Renville, Renville County, Minnesota, USA.^[7]

A son, Thomas Finley Thomsen was born on 31 Aug 1943 in Mankato, Blue Springs County, Minnesota, USA.^[8]

Ruth's husband, Robert Ronald Thomsen served in the US Navy rank of Lieutenant JG. Robert was a naval Navigator Instructor. Teaching at the Pensacola Naval Station among other locations. Ruth and son Tom joined Robert in Florida. They resided in Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida, USA in 1944, and 1945.

In the 1950 census Ruth (age 38), Librarian, was the wife of R R Thomsen in Laramie, Albany County, Wyoming, USA.^[9] The household included:

• R R Thomsen 36, Head, North Dakota, University Graduate-Assistant Professor
• Ruth Thomsen 38, wife, University Librarian, and Teacher
• Tommy Thomsen 6, son,

Ruth lived through the history of World War I, (age 10) and World War II. She lived through the Spanish Flu pandemic and the Great Depression. ^[10]

Robert would move the family to Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington, USA. Robert and Ruth worked at the Whitman College in Walla Walla. Robert was a Professor teaching Physical Education and Sports Education. Ruth taught Library Sciences.

She passed on 2 October 2005 at the OddFellows Hall-Residency, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington, USA. She is buried at Evergreen Memorial Park in Tucson, Pima, Arizona, USA.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ "Illinois Births and Christenings, 1824-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H95F-843Z : 13 February 2020), Ruth Elizabeth Finley, 1907.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/50778823/ruth-e-thomsen : accessed 26 April 2021), memorial page for Ruth E Thomsen (17 Jul 1907–2 Oct 2005), Find a Grave Memorial ID 50778823, citing Evergreen Memorial Park, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA ; Maintained by Cori H (contributor 46481123).
3. ↑ 1910 Census:"United States Census, 1910"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T624; Digital film/folder number: 004970811; FHL microfilm: 1374313; Image number: 468; Sheet number: 13; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03350-3
   FamilySearch Record: MKDY-2J4 (accessed 21 November 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RVC-8VV
   Ruth Finley (2), single daughter, in the household of Harry L Finley (25) in Farm Ridge, La Salle, Illinois, United States. Born in Illinois.
4. ↑ 1920 Census:"United States Census, 1920"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 82; Digital film/folder number: 004966206; FHL microfilm: 1820828; Image number: 1096; Sheet number: 2; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01997-7
   FamilySearch Record: MWYQ-BG3 (accessed 21 November 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RNP-3KK
   Ruth E Finley (12), single daughter, in the household of Harry L Finley (35) in Verona Township, Faribault, Minnesota, United States. Born in Illinois.
5. ↑ 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T626; Line: 31; Digital film/folder number: 004951337; FHL microfilm: 2340821; Image number: 463; Sheet number: 1; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03845-7
   FamilySearch Record: X3ZQ-1SQ (accessed 21 November 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RHD-71C
   Ruth Finley (22), single daughter, in the household of Harry L Finley (45) in Winnebago, Faribault, Minnesota, United States. Born in Illinois.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWZX-LX2 : 8 January 2021), Ruth Finley in household of Mary I Finger, Marissa, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 82-102, sheet 2A, line 29, family 38, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 882.
7. ↑ Web: Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019
8. ↑ Birth:"Minnesota Birth Index, 1935-2002"
   citing Blue Earth, Minnesota, United States, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis
   FamilySearch Record: VCFJ-MJR (accessed 19 November 2023)
   Thomas Finley Thomsen born on 31 Aug 1943, child of Robert R. Thomsen & Ruth Elizabeth Finley Thomsen, in Blue Earth, Minnesota, United States.
9. ↑ 1950 Census:"United States 1950 Census"
   citing Page: 26; Line: 19; Digital film/folder number: 109037407; Image number: 27
   FamilySearch Record: 6XBJ-D7Y2 (accessed 21 November 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHJ-5QH4-WVXM
   Ruth Thomsen (38), wife, Librarian, in household of R R Thomsen (36) in Laramie, Albany, Wyoming, United States. Born in Illinois.
10. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:6XBJ-D7YG : Sun Jan 29 19:31:05 UTC 2023), Entry for R R Thomsen and Ruth Thomsen, 10 April 1950.