Cris Coleen Ramaker

Cris Coleen Ramaker, 54, of Rochester, passed away Monday May 17, 2021,  at the home of Jeff & Yvette Halvorson where she had been in hospice. 

Cris Ramaker was born August 4, 1966, the youngest of 17 children, in Rochester to Winfield and Valoy (Frankson) Ramaker. She was baptized at the Cherry Grove Evangelical United Brethren Church on May 21st, 1967.  Cris attended school in Wykoff until 1980, then moved to Spring Valley and graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1985. She then attended Rochester Community and Technical College for two years.

Cris was a positive influence for so many in our communities. She was a member of the Evangel United Methodist Church in Rochester where she taught Sunday School for many years. She worked at Children’s Home Society and Children’s Nursery School for 17 years ensuring that almost two decades of children felt her care and teaching. She was a tireless advocate for American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)  and along with her canine companion Volpert, spoke to numerous school and church groups to promote independent living.  Her way of bringing awareness to these causes was so much easier to understand because of her special way of being in community with so many others.  She lived the saying, “Be a friend to have a friend.”   She especially loved her time spent with the people in the Hawthorn Adult Reading Program and as a facilitator for a SEMCIL womens’ group.  Cris was an avid reader and Max Lucado was her favorite author. 

Cris was the light and center of our family. She brought us all joy, laughter and love and she showed us how to live well, even in the face of insurmountable challenges. Even in her final days, she radiated so much love, peace, and humor. During her life, she loved spending time with her family, her high school classmates, her church community and her many friends of all ages. She brought her light and the light of her faith into all of our lives.  

Cris is survived by four sisters, Dianne (Steve) Bicknese of Wykoff, Mary Ann (Steven) Schultz of Spring Valley, Yvonne (Randy) Kraling of Spring Valley, Yvette (Jeff) Halvorson of Spring Valley;  seven brothers, Dean (Diane) Ramaker of Stewartville, Thomas (Lynette) Ramaker of Spring Valley, Steve Ramaker of Wykoff, Clair (Sheri) Ramaker of Wykoff, Donovan (Sheri) Ramaker of Stewartville, Richard (Margaret) Ramaker of Spring Valley and Gene (Jeannette) Ramaker of Spring Valley; and brother-in-law Vince (Marion) Olson. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Winfield and Valoy; sisters, Linda Olson, Twyla Hellickson, and Billi Snyder; and two brothers, Neil Ramaker and Mark Ramaker.

A memorial in Cris’ name will be donated to the Fillmore Women’s Retreat.

A private family service will be held at the home of Yvette and Jeff Halvorson with Pastor Mark Woodward and Jim Klepper officiating. Cris’s Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021 at the American Legion in Stewartville, MN at 1100 2nd Ave NW from 3:00-7:00pm.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.