Ruth Parrott

PRINCETON — Ruth LaDessa (Johnson) Nelson Parrott died at the age of 97 on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. She was a resident of Liberty Village in Princeton. She passed away peacefully at her residence.

Ruth was born on Oct. 14, 1917, in Princeton to Oscar and Anna (Nissen) Johnson. She had one brother, Elmer Cecil Johnson. She attended Elm Grove School and Princeton High School. Her childhood days were spent on a farm near the Red Covered Bridge.

She was married to LeRoy Harold Nelson on Dec. 14, 1941, in Princeton. They were married for 27 years until he died in 1968. Ruth married Joe Parrott in 1971. They were married for 28 years until his death in 2000.

Ruth worked at Landahl's in Princeton for many years. She was a founding member of the Princeton Bible Church. She was also a member of the Van Orin Gospel Church in the 1950s and 60s. Other than residing a short time in Texas and New Jersey while LeRoy was in the U.S. Army, they resided on a farm near Malden and moved to Princeton in 1964, where she has since resided.

Ruth had a beautiful soprano voice and loved to sing. In her early adult years, she recalled an invitation to sing at an event at the Norris home and was asked to wear Mrs. Norris's wedding gown, which is now on display at the Princeton Historical Society. She also sang often in her church.

Mrs. Parrott is survived by her two sons, John R. Nelson (Judy Engel) of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and David L. Nelson (Karen Forristall) of Macomb; four grandchildren, Jeremy Nelson and Jay (Lisa) Nelson of Arizona, Philip (Wendy) Nelson of Florida and Anna (Hugh) Wilson of New York; as well as five great-grandchildren, Spencer, Riley, Remy, Olivia and Freya. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Phyllis Johnson of Princeton, along with several nieces and nephews. She was a stepmother to Joe Parrott's surviving children, Jim of Princeton, Ruby Spoede of Canton, Pat and Rose of Rockford, and Betty of Dixon.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Anna Johnson; husband LeRoy Nelson; brother Elmer Johnson; grandson Jeffrey Nelson; husband Joe Parrott; and stepchildren Marvin, David and Beverly.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at the Norberg Memorial Home, 701 E. Thompson St., Princeton, with visitation at 10 a.m. until the time of services. Interment will follow at Elm Lawn Memorial Park in Princeton.

Memorials may be directed to the family for charitable disbursement.

Online condolences may be left at www.norbergfh.com.