In Memory of Ruth McKinney
....Artist, Advocate, SMAHC Volunteer &
Grant Panelist

Ruth McKinney passed away on March 18, 2009.  McKinney was a longtime volunteer and grant panelist for SMAHC gong back to 1989.  She served on all 3 of SMAHC’s grant panels over many of those years.  She was instrumental in developing the SMAHC Rubric for Grant Panelists for the Arts & Learning program and the Art Projects program.  This tool has greatly helped SMAHC grant panelists in their task of reviewing and rating the various grants.  She was a wonderful artist in her own right, a painter and a sculptor, and together with her husband, operated Blackhawk Studios (www.blackhawk-studios.org/).  Ruth, along with her husband Joel were founding members of Tantanka Arts (www.tatankaarts.org/).

Read the tribute to Ruth in the Spring/Summer Tatanka Newsletter

Ruth E. McKinney

Ruth McKinney, age 53 of rural Walnut Grove, Minnesota passed away at her residence on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Private family services will be held. The Walnut Grove Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Ruth McKinney Art Scholarship Fund at the Wabasso Public School District 640, PO Box 69, Wabasso, MN 56293.

Ruth E. McKinney was born June 30, 1955 in Bailey Harbor, Wisconsin to Luther and Gloria (Peterson) Jacobson. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She graduated from high school in Ogema, Wisconsin. Ruth furthered her education at Augsburg College and the University of South Dakota where she obtained a Master of Fine Arts Degree. She taught art and art education at Northern State University. She worked as a paraprofessional in the Theatre Dept and University Relations at SMSU. Ruth’s most recent position was at the Wabasso Public School.

Ruth was the founding president of Tatanka Arts and long term panelist for S.M.A.H.C. Her hobbies included painting, sculpting, and gardening.

Ruth is survived by her husband Joel; step children: Erin Perlman of Steamboat Springs, CO, Erin Schenk of Marshall, MN, Justin McKinney of Russell, MN, and Dirk Hezlep of Alexandria, MN; grandchildren: Amanda, Morgan, Sam, Wyatt, Devon, Lestat, and Alyssa. Also surviving is Ruth’s mother: Gloria Jacobson of Prairie du Chien, WI; siblings: Tim Jacobson of LaCrosse, WI, Peter Jacobson (Barbara) of Ogema, WI, Kirk (Donna) Jacobson of Hudson, WI, and Julie Vann of Chapel Hill, NC; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her father Luther and stepson Liam.