Ruth Iverson, 92, of Glenn Lake, Norwich, passed away on March 20, 2020.
Ruth was born on June 10, 1927 in Roselle, New Jersey to Norwegian immigrants Joseph and Ragna (Odegaard) Iverson. She grew up in West Hempstead, Long Island, the second of five children and the first American-born. Ruth was an accomplished ice skater in her youth. One afternoon she caught the eye of a boy whose skill on the ice matched her own. She and John Senti became skating partners, and eventually fell in love. In 1944 John joined the Army, serving in France and Germany during WWII. Ruth, meanwhile, graduated from Hempstead High School and attended Waldorf Junior College in Forest City, Iowa. They were engaged on her 19th birthday and married in 1947. The couple moved to Norwich, where they ran a dairy and poultry farm on Pratt Road. In addition to the farm, Ruth worked as a typist and tended to her growing family. She dreamed of creating a lake, and in 1966, after years of planning and hard work, Glenn Lake was opened, a 22 acre recreational lake named after American astronaut John Glenn. It would be a popular summer get-away for many years, and one of Ruth’s proudest achievements.
Ruth was active in her church and in the community, and was a member of the Democratic party. Her fondest wish was to one day see a woman elected President. She enjoyed long walks, skating, singing, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and writing poems and short stories. She was tenacious and inquisitive, and a loving mother and grandmother and she is greatly missed.
She is survived by her children, of whom she was most proud; Russ (Susan) Senti, Houston, Texas; Barbara (Bill) Mudge, New Smyrna Beach, Florida; John (Donna) Senti, Port Crane NY; Glenn Senti, Norwich NY; her beloved grandchildren, who gave her great joy; Debra (Terrence), Sarah (Melissa), Amber (Christopher), Jennifer (David), Ashley (Charles), Bethany (Jose), Christopher, Alysia (Gavin) and Andriana (Joshua); 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Elsie (Roy) Johnson, Guilford NY; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her former husband John, a brother Iver and sisters Janet and Nancy. Due to the pandemic, burial was private at Glenn Lake, where Ruth found much happiness and peace during her life.
Our mother was slowly and cruelly stolen away by Alzheimer’s, a truly terrible disease. Please consider giving to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.