Ruth W Redhead, 92, died peacefully on Oct. 29, 2017. She was the daughter of Maxwell and Blanche (Wimble) Willard. She was born in Burlington, Vermont, on Dec. 6, 1924.
Ruth received her Bachelors in Education in 1945 at the University of Vermont, her Masters in French in 1954 at the University of Vermont and her PhD in French in 1971 at the University of Minnesota.
She also was granted sabbatical leave for research in Paris in 1978-1979 and 1986-1987. She attended the Universite de Grenoble from 1950- 1951 and 1955- 1956 and the Universite de Caen from 1975- 1976. Ruth’s true love was for the French language and France itself where she made many wonderful life-long friends. Ruth traveled at least twice a year to France until her death. Ruth also studied German at the University of Colorado in the summer of 1954 and Spanish at Texas Western University in the summer of 1956.
Ruth started her teaching career at Marshfield High School in Marshfield, Vermont, in 1945 where she taught English, French and History for 2 years.
She then moved to West Lebanon High School in New Hampshire in 1947, where she also taught English, French and History for three years. In 1951 she accepted a position at Lincoln College where she taught English and French for four years.
In 1956 Ruth then moved to Kansas to teach French and English at Fort Hayes Kansas State College for three years. In 1962, Ruth became the Professor of French at South Dakota State University where she taught for 29 years. During her time at SDSU, Ruth was also a Graduate Teaching Associate at the University of Minnesota for two years. In March of 1989, Ruth was given the title of Distinguished Professor. At this time, she was the second to be given this honor at South Dakota State University.
Ruth married Robert Sidney Redhead in 1959, they were married for 54 years until his death in 2013.
Ruth loved classical music, walking along the Greenway in Loring Park, espresso, entertaining and spending time with her family and countless friends. Ruth touched many lives while writing each chapter of her life – from high school and college friends, to students who were in her classes and professors that were still in contact. She also had a wide network of friends in France.
She will be greatly missed by all.
Ruth is survived by several nieces and nephews. Linda Naaktgeboren and her husband Andrew of Arlington Vermotn, Michelle Ennis of Rutland, Vermont and Sharon Lacerra of Massachusetts. Her nephews Max Walsh and his wife Alice of Detroit Texas, Scott Walsh of Arlington Vermont, Dwain Walsh and his wife Ella of Hubbardton vermont and Willard Lunt of Massachusetts.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Redhead, her sisters Corrine Lunt and Marlene Walsh and a nephew Robert Walsh.
Per Ruth’s wishes, there will be no calling hours but there will be a gathering to celebrate her life at Alliance Francaise-Minneapolis at 113 N. First Street on Friday, Dec. 1 from 5-7 in the evening.
