Ruth Elsa Koehler, 95, of Owatonna, died Friday, February 22, 2019 at Owatonna Hospital. She was born January 5, 1924 in Red Rock Township the daughter of Arthur and Louise (Schwartz) Smith. Ruth graduated from Austin High School. She worked for Hormel before enrolling in Nurses training. Ruth completed her nurses training in Rochester and began her long career which was spent in various places including Grand Forks, ND, California and Arizona. On June 2, 1967 Ruth married Elmer Koehler in Sand Point, ID. The couple owned and operated a resort in Kalispell, MT for many years spending the summers in Montana and the winters in Arizona. In 1991 they moved to Minnesota. Ruth was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. She loved Trout fishing and flower gardening. She is survived by many cousins, friends and other relatives including local relatives, Selma Reb of Owatonna, Roger (and Kathy) Reb of Hope, Gary Reb of Faribault and Jeanette Reb of Hesper, IA. She was preceded in death by her husband and one brother. Visitation will be at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Friday from 9:30am to 10:30am. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 1, 2019 at 10:30am at Redeemer Lutheran Church with The Reverend Kirk Griebel officiating. Interment will be in the St. John's Cemetery near Nowthen.