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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Old Friends Wed, Pursued Causes ‘Til End

Ruth Hussa lost a teaching job in Cataldo in 1950 because someone linked her with communists. Art Norlen was branded a communist in Shoshone County because he sympathized with labor unions.

Ruth and Art eventually married and crusaded for human rights, peace and environmental causes for 17 years together. Then, last month, Art’s 86-year-old heart gave out.

“My advice for old people is if you marry, marry an old friend,” says Ruth, a practical woman who is stoic in her grief. “There are gold-diggers out there. There are drunks.”

Ruth knew Art the immigrant Swede, shoemaker, science student, gunsmith and diarist. She appreciated his hobo years in the 1930s, his arrest for vagrancy, his U.S. Army enlistment during World War II despite his antiwar stance.

“He wanted to defeat fascism,” she says.

Ruth and Art met when they were married to others. Ruth taught in Wallace. Art owned The Shoe Box in Kellogg and sold and repaired guns and built rifle stocks.

Art’s understanding of science and his ability to explain it despite only 10 years of schooling intrigued Ruth. He read everything and filled stacks of notebooks with his daily observations.

By the time Ruth’s first husband died in 1973, Art had divorced. They didn’t see much of each other until 1977 when Ruth sold her old friend a community concert membership. A few months later, they wed.

Together, they strained Art’s expansive notes into two books, “Vanishing Immigrants” and “Death Comes to a Proud Union.”

Ruth matched Art’s prolific pen with a parade of letters to local newspapers, politicians, government agencies. They poured their quiet energy into most Democratic events in two counties.

When Art died three weeks ago, he added a cause to Ruth’s list. She wants to sprinkle some of his ashes in Norlen Pond on their property near Cataldo and send some to his birthplace in Sweden. But dividing the ashes will cost her.

“Those sanctimonious funeral people,” Ruth fumes. “Before I do anything else, I’m writing them a letter.”

Victory!

Dayna Hewitt’s interest in victory gardens pleased several North Idaho gardeners. Post Falls’ John Sherwood says victory gardens are typical vegetable gardens renamed during World War II to get the nation behind the war effort.

Families were asked to grow their own vegetables so the nation’s supply could go to U.S. soldiers. Coeur d’Alene’s Elsa Peterson sent Dayna a 1942 gardening book with a section on victory gardens. And Hayden’s Agnes Moberg says she was patriotic and planted a victory garden soon after the government asked. Within weeks, she discovered a bug for each vegetable. She gave up gardening for nearly 30 years.

John had the best tip for Dayna: “Call your garden a victory garden and have it symbolize any victory you wish.”

Searching for Santas

The wooden bunny and seal my parents built for my children years ago have become family treasures. I’m sure the wooden toys built by volunteers at the Bonner Gospel Mission each Christmas also are treasured by the children who receive them.

If you’re good with wood and like to see your work appreciated, call the mission at 263-6698 and volunteer for the Angel Tree project. It’s not too early to be thinking Christmas …

Underdressed trees

Usually the trees don’t wait for fall to dress up in bright colors. But if leaves are already turning, they’re keeping it secret from me.

Where are the great, flashy trees in your neighborhood? Map out directions for Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814; FAX them to 765-7149; or call 765-7128 and make me draw my own map.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo