Peters Genealogy

Obituary

Published in Pioneer Press from Aug. 4 to Aug. 5, 2007

O'Toole, Ruth Joan Age 87 Of Apple Valley died peacefully at her Farquhar Lake home August 1st.
Born Ruth Joan Bradley in Neenah, WI on Dec. 16th, 1919, 2nd daughter of Orville and Lenore Bradley.

Survived by son Timothy O'Toole and partner Jill Boldenow, niece Diane Healey (nee Peters),
nephew Robert (Janice) Peters, and cousin Roger (Mary) Rex.

Preceded in death by her husband of 30 years, John J. O'Toole, sister Helen Peters,
brother-in-law Robert "Bob" Peters and nephew Bradley Peters.

Ruth embraced life like no other. She lived a very fulfilling, energetic and wondrous 87 years.
Good friends, books, travel, architecture, music, art and cooking were essential to her full life.
Also, she loved ice cream--always in relentless pursuit of the perfect cone.

Ruth moved to Minneapolis in the 1940s from Wisconsin and began a career in both advertising and market
research initially writing copy for Munsingwear, Ladies Leader Garment, Annie Laurie Originals and the
Jerdon Shop. She relocated for a few years to one of her fondest cities, San Francisco, where she lived,
worked and met many dear, lifelong friends. Moving back to Minnesota she married John O'Toole and began
working in market research at Campbell-Mithun Advertising and Knox-Reeves among others. She continued in
this line until her retirement in 1982 from International Multifoods. Travel was one of her greatest passions
and with her family she traveled the four corners of the U.S. camping and sightseeing. She also traveled
the globe extensively throughout retirement, recently exploring both Iceland and Bermuda in her mid-80s
along with countless educational trips through Elder Hostel. Ruth continued her lifelong love of learning
by taking classes in philosophy, architecture, history and religion (among others) through the Elder Learning
Institute and OLLI. She was active in numerous social, arts and environmental organizations including the
Sierra Club and the MIA. She was an active volunteer at the Center for Victims of Torture, Food for Friends,
Meals-on-Wheels(21 years), the DFL Party, MPR and the Sierra Club. During her later years her most enjoyable
times were spent with the environmental/social group, OWLS, and "The Bike Club"--whose fellow members remained
lifelong friends.

She will be missed and loved immeasurably by her friends, family and Farquhar Lake neighbors.

Visitation Monday, August 6th, 5-8 PM at the CREMATION SOCIETY OF MN, 4343 Nicollet Ave S.
Minneapolis (612-825-2435). In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred in Ruth's name to the North Star
Chapter of the Sierra Club or the organization Families Moving Forward (612-529-2185) or to the
Center for Victims of Torture (717 East River Road, Mpls 55455).