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Ruth E. Vaagen • 1918 - 2003 Ruth E. Vaagen, 85, Minot, ND, formerly of Carpio and Glenburn, ND, died Wednesday, October 29, 2003, in a Minot hospital. Ruth was born on August 24, 1918, in rural Callahan Township, Renville County, near Greene, ND. She was raised and educated in the Tolley, ND, area. Following her graduation from Tolley High School, she attended and received her teaching certificate from Minot Teachers College. She began teaching in rural Carpio and Mohall, ND. On June 18, 1945, Ruth married Orville Vaagen at Messiah Lutheran Church in Greene. They moved to Everett, WA, and they worked for Boeing Aircraft Company. Ruth worked as a riveter on the assembly line. In 1946, they returned to Carpio, and in 1948, moved to Glenburn, ND, where they started their farming operation. She returned to teaching elementary education at Lansford Public School in 1960. She continued her college education on weekends and summers and in 1969 received her B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Minot State College. She enjoyed her many years teaching in Lansford, and retired from the school in 1981. She and Orville were living in Minot at the time of her death. Ruth established many lifetime friends throughout her teaching career. Ruth was very proud of her grandchildren and enjoyed attending their different activities. She was very proud of her Swedish and Scandinavian heritage, and attempted to educate and teach her family and friends of the many traditions that were important to her. Ruth was an amateur naturalist and horticulturist, enjoying her garden and tending to her garden, bird watching, attracting and tagging Monarch butterflies and planting trees. Ruth loved spending time outdoors. In her spare time, she liked to solve word search puzzles. Ruth was a member of Carpio Lutheran Church, the ND Retired Teachers Association and was active in the Farmers Union. The family of Ruth would like to give a special thank you to Carl Vaagen, Darlene Elberg, and Cliff and Linda Sanders for all of their wonderful care. Survivors: husband, Orville, Minot; three children,
Roger Vaagen, Fargo, Sherry (Warren) Hight, Maple Grove, MN,
and Carolyn (John) Anderson, Fargo; four grandchildren, Laura
Hight, Maple Grove, Jason Hight, Plymouth, MN, Anthony (Jill)
Anderson and Sarah Anderson, all of Fargo; one great-grandson,
Mark Anderson; brother, Lowel (Darlene) Elberg, Minot; three
brothers-in-law, Vernon (Carol) Vaagen, Colville, WA, Harold
(Connie) Vaagen, Ft. Morgan, CO, and Carl Vaagen, Carpio; numerous
nieces and nephews. Her daughter, Joy Anne Vaagen, her parents,
and two brothers, Wallace and Merrel Elberg, preceded her in
death. Visitation: Friday, October 31, 2003, from noon to 7:00 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot. Burial: Nazareth Lutheran Cemetery, Carpio. Music Active Pallbearers: Bruce Elberg, Steven Asbe, Jerry
Elberg, Jerry Vaagen, Jim Swift Honorary Bearers: Ruth's family and friends in the community |