Sharon Ruth Litfin

AKELEY, Minn. - Sharon Ruth Litfin, of rural Akeley, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, after a year-long battle with cancer.

Sharon was born Sept. 21, 1945, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and received her United States Naturalization Certificate in 1988.

She had earlier moved to Akeley and was married to Richard Ebaugh. Within that marriage, Sharon gave birth to three daughters.

Sharon and Ebaugh were divorced in 1994. Sharon continued to live in her Akeley residence and worked at Aw Gwah Ching State Hospital, outside of Walker, until she married Dennis Litfin, of rural Akeley, in December 2003.

Sharon and Dennis lived on Crystal Lake, between Akeley and Hackensack, for the duration of their marriage. In addition, they had a winter residence in Ironwood, Mich., where they would go to enjoy the downhill skiing at Indianhead Mountain Resort, where they were members. Sharon taught Dennis how to downhill ski while she continued to ski in Indianhead's ski race league. Sharon's racing high point came recently when she was able to beat her sister, Helen, who was also a ski instructor at Indianhead. Sharon had many friends in the Ironwood area, as well as in Minnesota.

In addition to downhill ski racing, Sharon was an avid swimmer in Crystal Lake. She took up golfing, was a good piano player and singer who loved karaoke. Sharon always looked forward to her Girls' Weekend with her very close friends and checking out the thrift stores along the way between her Crystal Lake and Michigan residences.

She was an excellent seamstress, who at one time recently made and sold winter women's headwear and footwear. Sharon loved her flower garden, and loved to bake, cook and can her garden vegetables and fruits. She also loved her animals and babies.

Sharon treated others with kindness and was empathetic and giving to all who were unfortunate. Her laugh and sense of humor was infectious to all who had the good fortune of knowing her. Sharon could laugh at herself and was a loving wife, mother and friend.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Winifred and Ernest Bakewell; sister, Rae Bakewell; brother, Robert Bakewell; and an infant great-granddaughter, Mayline Wenzel.

She is survived by her loving husband, Dennis Litfin, of rural Akeley; three daughters, Tammy (Keith) Blumberg, of rural Park Rapids, and Tonja Ebaugh and Tricia Ebaugh of Apache Junction, Ariz .; grandchildren, Anthony Kriens, Dale Kriens, Hannah Welch and Madeline Wenzel; a sister, Helen (Dick) Brace, of Bessemer, Mich .; and many other relatives and dear friends.

A gathering of close friends and family was held with Sharon at her Crystal Lake residence on Aug. 20, where her life was recognized and celebrated.

Sharon was a ray of sunshine and she brightened everyone's life she touched. She will be missed dearly by all who knew her.