Ruth E. McKeen

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Ruth E. McKeen

SOUTH PARIS — Ruth Elizabeth McKeen, 101, died Friday, January 7, 2011 at Ledgeview Living Center in West Paris. She had lived in the local area since the age of seven when she came to Maine and had resided at 18 Gary Street in South Paris. She had been residing at the Ledgeview Living Center in West Paris and prior to that lived at Hillside Terrace in South Paris. She was born in Duluth, MN on March 2, 1909, the daughter of Matti and Maria (Korhonen) Waltanen and had attended schools in Greenwood.

Mrs. McKeen was a homemaker and was a housekeeper in the local area for many years. She also worked at area summer camps for many summers. She was a member of the Finnish-American Heritage Society of Maine, and had many friends in the area and enjoyed going out to lunch and shopping. She especially enjoyed visiting her daughters and family.

She was married in West Paris on September 14, 1929 to Ellis T. McKeen, who died on September 26, 1943.

Survivors include two daughters, Jennie Wolozin of No. Andover, MA and Thelma Simoneau and husband Norman of Laconia, NH; two grandchildren, Tracy Simoneau of Boston, MA and Rachel Mueller of Frederick, MD; a niece, Diane Waltanen of South Paris; a sister-in-law, Hazel Wheeler of South Paris and several cousins here in Maine and in Finland. She was predeceased by a sister, Meimi Waltanen McKeen; a brother, Archie Waltanen; sister-in-law, Saimi McKeen and a cousin, Lena Mustonen.

Graveside services will be conducted in the spring at the Finnish Cemetery in West Paris. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Ledgeview Living Center, 141 Bethel Road, West Paris, ME 04289 in her memory. Arrangements are under the care of the Meader & Son Funeral Home, 3 Franklin Street, P. O. Box 537, Rumford. Friends are invited to sign the guest book and share memories on-line at www.meaderandson.com.