Ruth E. Larson

Ruth E. Larson, 77, Stanley, died Wednesday, October 22, 2008, in a Minot hospital. Her funeral will be on Monday, October 27, at 11 a.m. at the American Lutheran Church in Stanley. Visitation will be Sunday, October 26, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Springan Funeral Home in Stanley.

Ruth Eleanor Svestad was born April 19, 1931, a daughter of Trygve and Elfie (Gunderson) Svestad, in Kathryn, ND. She was raised and educated in the Kathryn area. She received a teaching certificate from Valley City State Teachers College and taught in a country school near Kathryn.

She married LeRoy Larson on June 24, 1951. They spent their first two years of marriage living in San Diego, CA, and Camp Lejeune, NC, while LeRoy served in the U.S. Marine Corps. After their time in the service, Ruth and LeRoy made their home in Crosby, ND. LeRoy worked with the local lumber company and Ruth worked for the Crosby Motel. They were transferred to Sidney, MT, in 1956 where LeRoy again worked for the local lumberyard and Ruth enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom and wife. In 1973 they were brought to Stanley by another transfer with Great Plains Lumber. After a couple of years in Stanley, Ruth began at the B & B Drugstore/Sandberg Drug where she worked until the business closed. She and LeRoy owned and operated the Regis Theatre from 1982-1997, where Ruth religiously spent every weekend selling concessions to moviegoers.

Ruth enjoyed volunteering at Hidden Treasures. She was an active member of the American Lutheran Church, was a member of the Church Circle group and made lefse every year at the annual lutefisk dinner. While in Sidney, she taught Sunday school for many years.

Ruth was an avid quilt maker and loved to make quilts, especially for family births, graduations and weddings. She had a knack for making the perfect lefse that no one could ever match. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have hands down voted her the best doughnut maker. If you had the privilege to visit with her in her home you never left hungry. She loved taking and displaying pictures of her family. She took great pride in making sure all of her grandkids and great-grandkids knew she had "everything" in her purse. She carried whatever we needed from a Band-aid, aspirin, gum, candy, or Kleenexes.

Survivors: husband, LeRoy; daughters, Debbie (Jerry) Nichols, Stanley, Karen (Mark) Johnson, Tucson, AZ, Bonnie (Randy) Nichols, Palermo, and Tammi (Dave) Colbenson, Stanley; grandchildren, Dawn (Skip) Locken, Danielle Nichols, Wyatt Nichols, Shelby (Chad) Barstad, Chelsey (Josh) Wolla, Quinn Nichols, Max Johnson, Ben Johnson, Angela (Ray) Schepp, Brandi Bieri, Cassie Nichols, Kyle Nichols and Miranda Colbenson; great-grandchildren, Shayna, Jenna, Kyli, Kori Locken, Dakota, Dustin and Dylan Stammen, Leighton Nichols, Joey and Makenna Halsey, Bennett Barstad, Taylor, Jacy and Madden Barstad, Chance, Carissa and Casyn Bieri, and Kayle Uran; great-great-grandchild, Kade Snyder; sisters, Carol Chose, Fargo, Shirley (Melvin) Bjerke, Kathryn, ND, and Barbara (Richard) Gunderson, Osceola, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, and grandson, Matthew Johnson.