RUTH SMITH obituary

Ruth Marie Smith, 53, died of natural causes on Monday, Sept. 14, 2009 at Northern Montana Care Center Hospice.

Funeral Mass will be Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, at 2 p.m. in St. Gabriel's Catholic Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Rosary will be recited on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. in St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. Memorials may be sent to a memorial of one's choice. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Ruth was born Dec. 6, 1955, the fifth child of John W. and Fay (Vercruyssen) Stuker of Chinook. She was raised on the family farm north of Chinook and graduated from Chinook H i g h S c h o o l . After high s c h o o l Ruth took n u r s e ' s training at a Billings Vo - T e c h C o l l e g e . R u t h worked 20 years for t h e Lu t h e ra n Home o f The Good Shepherd in Havre as a nurse and as laundry administrative assistant until the care center moved to its present location. Ruth then attended Northern Montana College in Havre obtaining as associate degree in social services while continuing to work fulltime. After college she worked at Payless Shoes as an assistant manager until the store relocated and then worked for Albertsons and IGA as a bookkeeper/ clerk. Ruth married Ernie Smith in Chinook on June 10, 1983. Ruth was an excellent seamstress, sewing clothes for her nieces and nephews and covering car seats for her spouse. Often Ruth spoke of the times she spent caring for her nieces and nephews as she loved them dearly. Ruth thoroughly enjoyed living in the country and spent considerable time and hard work clearing her piece of this country. Ruth cherished the times she shared the evening sky with her husband. Her pets were extremely well cared for especially her cat, Mitten. Ruth loved the closeness of her family and looked forward to the family gatherings at the ranch, the family campouts and the governor races in Helena. She was a hard worker and took tremendous pride in her work. She always took time for her friends. We will remember the entertainment Ruth brought to the family gatherings, the miles she and Ernie traveled to the family campouts, and how she loved ice cream. Ruth's strength and attitude has inspired us all, she will be deeply missed. Survivors include her husband, Ernie of Havre; mother, Fay Stuker of Chinook; sisters, Jerri (Steve) Willman of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Marion (Mike) Colling of Havre, Leslie (Lee) Burroughs of Lavina; brothers, John H. (Elena) Stuker of Dupuyer; Ken (Becky) Stuker of Helena, and Richard (Rose) Stuker of Chinook; nieces and nephews Stefanie, Stacie, Scott, J.L., Joel, Dallas, Wendy, Beth, Donald, Kristy, Mary, Sam, Jed, Jesse, and grandnieces and grandnephews, Jayton, Alysson, Ethan, Emerald, Thomas, Ruby, Cassie and Dallas. She was preceded in death by her father, John W. Stuker; g r a n d p a r e n t s, M a r i o n Vercruyssen, Churnie (Arthur) Peugh, Gustave Vercruyssen and John and Sophie Stuker.