| Ruth Youngdahl Nelson (social justice and peace activist) Born into a prominent family
that included a former Minnesota governor and federal judge, as well as the pastor of the
nation's largest Lutheran congregation, Mrs. Nelson was herself widely known as a Bible
teacher and speaker. Regarded as a leader within the Augustana Lutheran Church, she wrote
ten inspirational and autobiographical books. For 40 years she shared her pastor husband's
congregational ministries in Minnesota, Illinois, Washington, D.C., Saudi Arabia and
Switzerland. They were deeply involved in programs for the poor, elderly, prisoners and
inner city children. Named "Church Woman of the Year" in 1960 and "Mother
of the Year in 1973", her later years were marked by a passionate opposition to
nuclear weapons. In 1982, two years before her death at age 80, she was again in the news
for being arrested with her son, Jonathan, in a small flotilla of boats trying to block
the first Trident submarine from docking in Bangor, Washington. The government eventually
dropped all charges.
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