Obituary: Erstad, Ruth Hannah
Age 102
ERSTAD,
Ruth Hannah
Passed peacefully on May 14, 2012, at the age of 102.
Born Ruth Henstrand in Reeder, ND, on March 14, 1910, she grew up in Hettinger, ND where she attended high school.
Ruth received her registered nursing degree in 1932 at Asbury Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis, MN.
During the Depression, she and most of her family moved West, settling in Vancouver, WA.
During WWII, she met Harry Erstad, and they were married on December 17, 1942.
They settled in Spokane in 1950 with their daughter, Diane, and son, Richard.
They joined Central Lutheran Church where Ruth made many friends.
Ruth worked at Deaconess Hospital for more than 20 years before retiring in 1975.
Her husband, Harry Erstad, passed in 1980.
In 1983, Ruth moved to San Diego and then Seattle before returning in 2007 to live in Spokane with her daughter, Diane.
She is survived by her children, Diane Smith (Hugh) of Spokane and Richard Erstad (Gladys Fenichel) of Philadelphia, PA; three grandchildren, Daniel Erstad of Los Angeles, CA, Sara Erstad and Laura Erstad both of New York, NY; sister, Ione Willson of Vancouver, WA; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Arnold, Lester, Marlin, and Verle.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at 1 PM at Central Lutheran Church, 512 S. Bernard, Spokane.
Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Spokane in recognition of their outstanding service to the community or to Central Lutheran Church where Ruth was a long-time member.
Arrangements entrusted to HAZEN & JAEGER FUNERAL HOME, 1306 N. MONROE, SPOKANE .