Ruth R. Thomsen

February 26, 1933 ~ January 27, 2025

Ruth (Rose) Thomsen of Plattekill, NY, died Jan. 27 at Vassar Bros Medical Center in Poughkeepsie after a short illness. She was about a month shy of 93.
Born on Feb. 26, 1933, she was third oldest of six children of Thomas and Violet Rose of Saratoga Springs, NY.

Her family moved to a farm in Petersburg, NY, while her mother worked as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse. Ruth accompanied her mom in the classroom and learned to read at the age of 3. Ruth attended Hoosick Falls High School.

While Ruth's father was a Navy Seabee overseas during World War II and her mother was teaching, Ruth and her siblings learned how to work on the family farm. That is where she gained a love for farming.

Ruth raised six children on her land in Marlboro, NY, and enjoyed gardening, canning and making jams. She also had a large barn and animals. At 35, she climbed up to the barn rafters and attached a rope swing for her children, which hung for so many years that even the grandchildren enjoyed it.

For years to come on the farm, many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren would learn how to feed and take care of the animals, how to plant, care for, and harvest veggies, as well as how to cook, can, and make jam. She was even pictured in a local newspaper showing children how to tap trees for maple syrup.

This is why she will always be affectionately known as "Grandma Farm".

When she wasn't busy on the farm, Ruth also worked as a prep chef in local restaurants, which eventually led her and her since-deceased husband John Thomsen to plan, prepare and run a weekly senior luncheon at the United Methodist Church in Newburgh for 11 years.

After that, she then helped with fundraising luncheons at her most recent church, Union Presbyterian Church in Balmville. There she was also a member of the choir and the bell choir, at times touring to perform at other churches and nearby universities.

During their marriage of some 36 years, Ruth and John were avid dancers and cloggers and loved to jitterbug.

Before her husband John, she was married to the since-deceased Robert Hansen and Nick Amoroso.

Ruth was also predeceased by daughter Judith Hart, brothers Kenny Rose and Richie Rose, and sister Harriette Weeden.

Ruth is survived by sisters June Varner of Nassau, NY, and Beverly Kantrowitz of Hoosick Falls, NY, by whom she was dearly loved; sons Bob Hansen of Louisville, KY, Dave Hansen of Garnerville, NY; Nick Amoroso of Valatie, NY; Tom Amoroso of Plattekill, NY; and a daughter Kitty Retzlaff of Schenectady, NY.

She is also survived by five stepchildren, many nieces and nephews, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Ruth will be fondly remembered by her beloved family as a woman who was strong, independent, self-sufficient, hardworking, caring and generous; a true matriarch of the family.

Two funeral services will be held:

—Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. at Union Presbyterian Church, 44 Balmville Road, Newburgh.

—Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. at Petersburgh Independent Church, 12 Head of the Lane Road (formerly United Methodist).

Ashes will be interred in Meadow Lawn Cemetery on Hewitt Road in Petersburg in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ruth's name may be made to Union Presbyterian Church.