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Ruth Oimoen • 1910 - 2004 Ruth Oimoen, 94-year-old widow of Casper Oimoen and member of a Ward County pioneer family, died Saturday, June 19, 2004, in Medford, OR, following a 12-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was living in Ashland, OR, and was formerly of Minot. She was born May 27, 1910, in Martin, ND, the first of four children to William and Pearl Edwards. Ruth received a teaching certificate from Minot Normal Teachers College in 1928 and taught in a rural school for one year near Velva, ND. She married Casper Oimoen December 30, 1929, and they resided in Minot until they moved to Anaconda, MT, in 1934, returning to Minot following the war. The family made their home in northeast Minot for the next 20 years. During this time, Ruth took classes at Minot Business College and worked at a women's apparel shop. Ruth and Casper traveled extensively to ski jumping tournaments throughout the United States, where Casper garnered the United Sates Ski Jumping Championships in 1930, 1931 and 1933. A book, written by their daughter, Sonja Stalions, "A Rough Way to Ride Between Earth and Sky," chronicles Casper's many ski jumping feats. He was captain of the 1932 Winter Olympic Ski Team while residing in Minot, placing fifth in the Lake Placid (NY) games. The book contains a description of the Oimoen family's time in Minot. When the family returned to Minot following the war, Ruth was the main caregiver during her daughter Delores' nine-year illness prior to her death in 1953. Ruth was involved in the Minot First Presbyterian Church's Women's Association, serving as president and representative to a leadership conference at Purdue University held in 1961. She was also a Girl Scout leader and was active in PTA. The Oimoen home in Minot was sold in 1964 and during the next 30 years the Oimoens lived in Ashland, where they enjoyed celebrating many milestones with their daughter, Sonja, and her family: Lesa, Theron, Nada and Gary Afseth. He Oimoens traveled twice to Norway, Casper's native land. After their first trip, Ruth made Norwegian folk outfits called bunads for her grandchildren, embroidering the traditional flower patterns on each of them. She was skilled in all areas of needlework, with crochet being her favorite. The Oimoens sold their Ashland home in 1993 and moved to a retirement home in Portland, OR. She and her husband observed their 65th wedding anniversary prior to Casper's death in 1995 in Portland. Ruth then returned to the Rogue Valley to be near her daughter and son-in-law, Sonja and Larry Stalions, who lived in Medford. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Mike and Lesa Wooton, of Newberg, OR, John and Nada Gross, of Salem, OR, and Theron and Kim Afseth, of Mount Shasta, CA; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Docela DeBerry, of Redding, CA. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Delores; her parents; sister, Wilma St. John; brother, Lyle Edwards; and her husband. Contributions in her memory may be made to Minot's Scandinavian Heritage Association or the Alzheimer's Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601. Officiant: Rev. Sharon Baker, First Lutheran Church, Rugby, ND Graveside Service Music: CD Selections, "Wind Beneath My Wings"
"His Eye Is On The Sparrow" Honorary Bearers: Ruth's loving family Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot
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