Henry R. Ruusi - Grand Master 1955

Henry R. Ruusi was born in Ishpeming on April 17, 1907. He received his early schooling in Ishpeming schools and graduated from Ishpeming High School in 1925. He enrolled as a student in the Northern Michigan College of Education and graduated in 1930 with an A.B. degree. Despite the discouragement of the Great Depression he created in 1931 a business of his own by building a service station. In the course of time this expanded into a bulk oil plant and became a distributing oil center for a large portion of Marquette County. In 1955 he completed twenty-five years as the head of this business. His abilities were soon sought out by other organizations. He was a Director of the Peninsula Bank, Treasurer of the Ishpeming Broadcasting Company, Vice-President of the Board of Education, and was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church Board. From 1943 to 1946 he served on the City Council and in 1945 he was Mayor of the City of Ishpeming. He was also Supervisor of Marquette County from 1943 to 1946. On June 20, 1931 he married Alma Henrietta Johnson. They were blessed with two sons. He was raised as a Master Mason in Ishpeming Lodge No. 314 on November 27, 1939 and immediately became active as an officer and in 1945 served with distinction as Worshipful Master. In due time he sought membership and was exalted to the Royal Arch Degree on February 24, 1950 in Ishpeming Chapter No. 152 and Knighted in Lake Superior Commandery No. 30, on October 27, 1952. He was also a Scottish Rite Mason, having been proclaimed a 32° Mason in Francis M. Moore Consistory in Marquette, Michigan on October 1940. He served as Most Wise Master of Peninsular Chapter of Rose Croix from 1946-1949. He also served as Illustrious Potentate of Ahmed Temple of the Mystic Shrine and held membership in the Red Cross of Constantine and Hematite Chapter No. 190 O.E.S. He was selected as the Worshipful Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Michigan in May 1950. He annually progressed and he was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master in Detroit on May 25, 1955. He was Coroneted a 33° Mason in Detroit in September 1955. He died on November 17, 1995.