Ruth Eileen Olson

Ruth Eileen Olson The funeral for Ruth Eileen Olson, 76, of Devils Lake, will be held Saturday, June 27 at 11 a.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Devils Lake. Reunited with her late husband Clifford in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Ruth entered eternal life on Wednesday June 24, 2009 in Devils Lake. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday (today) from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Pastor Jamie Desai will officiate with interment in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Special music will be provided by Jim and Norma Swanson of Fargo, N.D. Eulogies will be provided by Joshua and Justin Swanson. Casket Bearers are her grandsons: Jerod Kurtz, Joshua Swanson, Justin Swanson, Shane Hamre, Brandon Hamre, Kyle Hamre, Scott Volk, and Mark Woodrow. Honorary Bearers are her granddaughters: Steph Volk, Megan Woodrow, Kayla Swanson, Ashley Brenno, Andrea Brenno, Jennifer Hamre, Jackie Hamre, and Heather Kurtz. Ruth Eileen Olson was born January 2, 1933 in Devils Lake, North Dakota to Leonard and Hilda McMillan. Ruth attended Central High School in Devils Lake before she met, and fell in love with Clifford Van Olson. The two were united in marriage at St. Mark’s Lutheran Parsonage in Fargo, N.D. on October 16, 1948 and celebrated 60 years of marriage last fall. Together, they made Devils Lake their lifelong home where they lovingly raised six children, eleven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Ruth served as an anchor for her family while Clifford and their children tended to his numerous tasks and endeavors in the Lake Region. Her passion for cooking and all things culinary served not only her family well, but also those of the Devils Lake community where she spent many years as a cook for Lake Region Junior College, Senior Meals and Services, and the Good Samaritan. Ruth’s daughters and granddaughters continue to follow the same recipes they learned in her kitchen throughout the years. Always staying close to Clifford’s side, the weekends found Ruth either lakeside or hillside at their family cabin or Skyline Skiway where she volunteered alongside Clifford, her children, and in-laws in bringing smiles to the faces of not only their own family, but to hundreds of other families throughout the Lake Region. Along with Clifford, Ruth was a pillar of the Our Saviors community, helping Clifford to grow the church from its beginnings through their devotion to faith. Many of Ruth’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were baptized, confirmed, and married at Our Saviors. Ruth’s life was her family, and her family was her life. Her last few weekends were spent at the lake where she spent so much of her life after marrying Clifford. During this time on the lake, surrounded by family, she recalled warm memories of summers gone by, and smiled as the newest generations of her family enjoyed the same lake where she raised her children. Up through her birth into eternal life, she remained a constant maternal presence, counseling her daughters and granddaughters on everything from whipping potatoes to raising their children; and her grandsons on finding nice young ladies to settle down with. Survivors include her six children: Dennis (Cathy) Olson of Devils Lake, Debbie (Gary) Kurtz of Devils Lake, Denise (David) Swanson of Maddock, N.D., Barry Olson of Devils Lake, Dawn (Buck) Hamre of Garske, N.D., and Devonna (Tim) Brenno of Devils Lake; eleven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and sisters Mae Soper and Helen Hanson. She was preceded in eternal life by her husband Clifford who died on November 1, 2008; her parents, her in-laws, two sons, Darrell and Rodney, her sisters Arlene Wass and Jane Zinke and her brother Art Halverson.