Ruth Hallaway Forseth

Ruth Hallaway Forseth, 84 of Devils Lake formerly of Rock Lake, ND passed away Sunday, March 30, 2008 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake, in the loving arms of her daughter, Joanne. Funeral Services for Ruth will be Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Rev. Timothy Stout and Pastor Roger Leonhardt officiating. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, April 4th from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers will be Dale Martz, Bill Brunnemeyer, Harold Pantsari, Eugene Norheim, Derrick Leas, Rodney Weisser and Terry Wallace. Music will be provided by Marion Schmidt, soloist, Elonda Nord, organist and Mavis Blake, accompanist. Ruth Hallaway was born on October 26, 1923 in Halloway, Minnesota, the daughter of Fred and Dena (Sachs) Hallaway. At the age of 5, she and her family moved to a farm near Rock Lake, ND where she grew up and attended school. She worked for the Brunnemeyer family in her younger years. Ruth was united in marriage to Gordon J. Forseth on November 10, 1942 at Bisbee, ND. To this union, two children, Joanne and Jerome “Jerry” were born. Ruth and Gordon farmed the family farm together until retirement in 1980. They moved into Rock Lake in 1976 and to Devils Lake in 1984, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were married 53 years at the time of Gordon’s death on March 13, 1996. Ruth was a baptized and confirmed member of All Nations Lutheran Church in Rock Lake, where she was active in Ladies Aid and held several offices, the church choir, and other church and community activities including the Star Dust Homemaker’s Club. She was also a Sunday School and Bible School teacher. In Devils Lake, she was a 24 year member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Her joy in life was her family and friends, and how she loved those six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was deeply loved and will be missed so much. Ruth is survived by her Daughter, Joanne Forseth of Devils Lake; Daughter-In-Law, Ann Forseth of North Augusta, South Carolina; Grandchildren; Jodi (Charles) Houseworth, Lisa (Clay) Bales, Jerry Ausey, Sheree (Chris) Nobles, Cindy (Tim) Jones and Wendy (Chris) French; Great Grandchildren: Amanda Houseworth, Faith Olson, Connor Bales, Zachary Nobles, Abbie Nobles, Beth Nobles and Taylor Jones; Brother: Allen Hallaway of Amity, Oregon; Sister: Beulah Gawen of Cando; Sisters-In-Law: Florence Hallaway of Cando and Mary Alice Forseth of Devils Lake. Many nieces and nephews also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gordon; son, Jerome “Jerry” Forseth and brothers, Cortland, Robert and Harry Hallaway Joanne and her family are so grateful to everyone for their love, support, and friendship during this sad time. May God bless all of you.