Ruth Ann Pientok, 77, of Independence, died on Friday, March 7, 2025, at Gundersen Health
System in La Crosse.
Ruth was born on October 18, 1947, to Herman and Ellen (Morrison) Hellwig and grew up
around the Coon Valley area. After high school, Ruth attended nursing school earning a
registered nursing degree. She was employed at Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse. There she
met her future husband when he came in as a patient. One year later, Ruth was united in
marriage to Aaron Pientok on November 3, 1973, at S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in
Independence. She was later employed at Gundersen Tri-County Memorial Hospital in
Whitehall. After many years at the hospital, Ruth became a home-healthcare nurse for
Trempealeau County. In addition to Ruth’s devotion to healthcare and her faith, the couple
raised their 5 children on a farm in rural Independence, instilling hard-working ethics and true
American values. In her spare time, Ruth enjoyed tending to her enormous vegetable garden on
the farm. Besides working in her garden, she enjoyed traveling, putting together puzzles,
watching the Hallmark channel, working on her crossword puzzles, and cooking for her family. It
was said that if you left her house hungry that it was your own fault. After her retirement, Ruth
volunteered at S.S. Peter and Paul’s Catholic School, helping in the kitchen. She was a member
of S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and the Red Hats Society. She enjoyed getting together
with her nursing friends.
Ruth is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Aaron; children: Sara (Brad) Seufzer of
White Bear Lake, MN, Bill Pientok of Independence, Becky (Chad) Collins of Portage, WI, Jenny
(Charlie) Woychik of Independence, and Dan (Lorie) Pientok of Independence; grandchildren:
Cody and Brianna Collins, Al, Andy, and Maggie Woychik, and Luke, Makenzie, and Matthew
Pientok; brother: Glen (Wendy) Hellwig of Brooklyn, WI; sister: Shirley Fedie of Eau Claire; and
sister-in-law: Sandy Hellwig of Bangor.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother: Russ Hellwig.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at S.S. Peter
and Paul Catholic Church with Father George Thayilkuzhitottu officiating. Family and friends are
welcome for visitation beginning at 9 a.m. until the time of service at church. Burial will be in the
church cemetery. To express condolences to her family online, please visit
http://www.edisonfuneralhome.com. In leu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.