A Dedicated Nurse to All
By Adair Olney
Ruth Virginia Nelson
February 11, 1922-January 23, 2007
A Second Lieutenant in the U.S Army Nurse Corps, Ruth Nelson (née Kentta) spent her life caring for others, first as a nurse in the U.S Army, an administrator in a Denver hospital, and a school nurse in the Denver Public Schools, while taking care of her family as a mother and grandmother. She spent her eighty-four years on earth determined to help others in any way she could. Perhaps it was her effort in World War II that inspired a lifetime dedicated to caring for others, or something fundamental about her as a person; either way, the world is better off for having had Ruth Nelson in it.
Ruth was born Ruth Virginia Kentta on February 11, 1922, in Eveleth, Minnesota, a city in northern Minnesota close to the Canadian border.[1] Ruth’s parents arrived in the United States from Finland, dreaming of a better life for themselves and for their children. Ruth’s father, Jacob A. Kentta, landed stateside when he was a teenager, unaware of his fate ahead of him in this new country. Jacob lived in Worcester, Massachusetts for a short time before moving on to Minnesota where he would spend the rest of his life, including meeting his wife and raising his children. Ruth’s mother also arrived in the United States as a teenager.[2] Born Jennie Frigord in Finland, she boarded the “Oceanic” and stepped foot in her new country on August 13, 1913.[3] Just like her future husband and many other Scandinavians before her, she eventually traveled to Minnesota, a state she would call home for the rest of her life.[4]
Compassion for others clearly came naturally for Ruth. She attended the Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing at Mayo Clinic, a school that trained women to be a part of the Cadet Nurse Corps when the outbreak of World War II led to a dire need for more and more trained nurses.[5] Eager to serve her country during this time of need, Ruth Kentta did not hesitate to complete her rigorous 30-month training to become a military nurse.[6]
Italian and German prisoners of war at Camp Carson, where Ruth was stationed during the Second World War. (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/15692298681544297/)
Vintage post card from Camp Carson. (https://www.ebay.com/itm/CAMP-CARSON-Colorado-Springs-CO-Large-Letter-Postcard-WWII-Army-Base-Linen-1950-/143625840269)
After graduating from this program, she made her way down to Colorado, the state she would later call home for a duration of her life.[7] Camp Carson (later Fort Carson) [8] hosted Lt. Ruth Kentta in the Army Nurse Corps from April of 1945-1946.[9] Established outside of Colorado Springs, Camp Carson housed thousands of enlisted men and almost 600 nurses, as well as around 12,000 prisoners of war.[10] Mainly Italian and German, these prisoners worked at nearby farming and logging facilities.[11] Ruth’s duty as nurse at Camp Carson may have been tending to a U.S soldier or to one of the many Axis-aligned soldiers. It would not have been easy for American women like Ruth who signed up to help their country in the war, but were instead taking care of those who were enemies and likely killed US troops. Her service was a true test of character, one that she passed with professionalism and compassion.
Remarkably, Ruth’s medical career did not end when the war did. Unlike many other American veterans of the war who were eager to return to normal life, Ruth Kentta got a degree in medicine. In 1947, at the age of 25, Ruth was a graduate of the University of Minnesota Nursing School, a remarkable achievement.[12] It is unclear when she met her future husband of over 50 years, Al Nelson, but shortly before they married, they spent time in Rock Island, Illinois.[13] Al served in World War II as well, a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army who fought in the Battle of the Bulge.[14] Augustana Lutheran Church in Denver was a witness to their matrimony and love on June 25, 1954.[15] The Nelson’s family would eventually double in size with the arrival of their daughter Elizabeth “Libby” Nelson Crouch in 1962 [16] and later, their son Jonathan “Jon” Nelson.[17]
Colorado General Hospital administrator was another role Ruth took on while living in Denver as a young adult.[18] She held this position until she was 32 years old in 1954. Ruth continued her work in the Denver area, this time as a school nurse in the Denver Public School system, a job she held for most of her adult life.[19] Ruth’s tenacity and hard work is demonstrated once again by the fact that she managed to balance work and motherhood after having children; a feat not many women of her time can attest to.
Ruth’s life was not without hardships. In the midst of her important medical work at Camp Carson, her mother, Jennie, passed away at the young age of 55.[20] On December 21, 1945, six months after many celebrated the end of World War II, Ruth, just 23 years old, lost her mother.[21] Almost a year later to the day on December 20, 1946, Jacob A. Kentta died, leaving 24-year-old Ruth without parents.[22]
Throughout her career as a nurse, Ruth saw a multitude of different individuals. Whether you were a young Italian or German prisoner of war just trying to survive in the heartland of the Allies, a U.S soldier, or a child simply seeking a cough drop or bandaid from a school nurse, Ruth tended to every patient with professional attention and sympathy.
Ruth Virginia Nelson passed away on January 23, 2007 after 84 full years of life.[23] She left behind her two children, Libby and Jon, and their respective spouses Scott and Jennifer, grandchildren Max, Morgan, Henry, Brooklyn and Byron [24] and of course her beloved husband of almost 54 years, Al. Ruth is remembered by her loving family and community and the mark she left on so many as a doting nurse.
Footnotes ↓
[1] “Birth Certificate Index: 1922-30630.” Minnesota Historical Society. Accessed August 14, 2020. https://www.mnhs.org/people/birthrecords/1922-30630; “Eveleth Minnesota Community Guide.” Eveleth Minnesota City Guide, 2004. http://www.lakesnwoods.com/Eveleth.htm.
[2] Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com. Accessed August 14, 2020. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/family-tree/person/tree/114849637/person/270134064709/facts; Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Jacob Kentta. Ancestry.com. Accessed 2020. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/10572338?pId=532348198.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Legacy.com, Obituary of Ruth Nelson, January 30, 2007, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/denverpost/obituary.aspx?n=ruth-v-nelson&pid=86141441; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science. “History.” History - Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing Alumni Association - Alumni Center - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://college.mayo.edu/about/alumni-center/methodist-kahler-school-of-nursing-alumni-association/about/history/.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Legacy.com, Obituary of Ruth Nelson, January 30, 2007, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/denverpost/obituary.aspx?n=ruth-v-nelson&pid=86141441.
[8] Chen, Peter C., “Camp Carson,” World War 2 Database, 2017, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://ww2db.com/facility/Camp_Carson/.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Legacy.com, Obituary of Ruth Nelson, January 30, 2007, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/denverpost/obituary.aspx?n=ruth-v-nelson&pid=86141441.
[13] Ancestry.com, U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Ruth Nelson, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/4587980?pId=357540239.
[14] Horan & McConaty, “Obituary for G. Allan Nelson, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://www.horancares.com/obituary/g-allan-nelson.
[15] Ibid.
[16] Ancestry.com, Elizabeth Nelson Crouch, U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/1788/.
[17] Legacy.com, Obituary of Ruth Nelson, January 30, 2007, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/denverpost/obituary.aspx?n=ruth-v-nelson&pid=86141441.
[18] Ibid.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Ancestry.com, Jennie Frigord Kentta Death, Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/family-tree/person/tree/114849637/person/270134064708/facts.
[21] Ibid.
[22] Ancestry.com, Jacob A Kentta, Minnesota Death Index 1908-2002, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/family-tree/person/tree/114849637/person/270134064709/facts.
[23] Find a Grave, “Ruth Virginia Kentta Nelson (1922-2007) - Find A Grave,” Accessed August 14, 2020, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36195411.
[24] Legacy.com, Obituary of Ruth Nelson, January 30, 2007, Accessed August 13, 2020, https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/denverpost/obituary.aspx?n=ruth-v-nelson&pid=86141441.
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