Ruth Elizabeth McKeen

WEST PARIS -- Ruth Elizabeth McKeen, 101, died on January 7, 2011 at the Ledgeview Living Center.

She had lived in the local area since the age of seven when she came to Maine and had resided at 18 Gary St., South Paris.

She presently 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.

She 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.

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

Survivors include two daughters, Jennie Wolozin of No. Andover, MA and Thelma Simoneau & husband Norman of Laconia, NH; 2 grandchildren Tracy Simoneau of Boston, MA and Rachel Mueller of Frederick, Maryland; a niece Diane Waltanen of So. Paris; a sister in law Hazel Wheeler of So. Paris; several cousins here in Maine and in Finland; and 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, West Paris. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Ledgeview Living Center, 141 Bethel Rd., West Paris, ME 04289 in her memory.