Ruth Evelyn (Hall) Strand was born on October 12, 1926 in Grass Range, Montana, the only daughter and youngest of five children born to William and Jessie Hall. She passed away peacefully in Mora MN, surrounded by her loving family, on July 16, 2024 aged 97 years 9 months.

Ruth's parents had come to Montana from Nebraska, looking for new opportunity in farming and ranching. William and one of his brothers acquired good "wheat land" by homesteading, and by the early 1930s Ruth and family had moved to a ranch near Buffalo, MT where she loved to look out on the nearby "Twin Sisters" peaks from her bedroom window. Ruth had many fond memories of ranch life, including riding her quarter horse "Brownie" to and from the one-room school she attended, and the busy excitement of hosting the annual threshing crew.

Ruth's mother passed away when she was 14, and with her brothers being older and wanting to leave the farm for other adventures, she and her father moved into Lewistown, MT where she graduated high school. She was accepted into a preparatory school for flight attendants, but after graduation returned to Lewistown to care for her father. There, while working in banking, she met and married Elmer Ordin Strand on April 16, 1955. Ruth drew up detailed plans for their Lewistown "house on the hill," and while living there she and Elmer had two children, Karen and Paul.

In 1969 the family moved to Harvey, ND where she again drafted plans for the family home. While living there, she showed her grit and creativity by raising busy children, helping calving cows, dispatching the occasional fox with her .22, publishing several articles and poems, and fixing holes in fences with a pie plate and wire when Elmer was away.  She was a country hostess par excellence, always ready to offer bakery or almond roca  to visitors- unless Paul or Karen got to them first!

In 1999 Ruth and Elmer moved to Truth or Consequences, NM where they lived until moving to Mora, MN in 2013.

Ruth is preceded in death by her husband Elmer. She is survived by children Karen Faust (Scott TenNapel) and Paul; and grandchildren Jared Faust(Jessica), Tyler Faust, Zachary Faust(Charlie Herrmann), and Rachel Strand.

Ruth will forever hold a place in our hearts for her wit, intelligence, steady hand at yard Jenga, steadfast support for "her boys," aka the MN Timberwolves; love of playing pinochle with grandsons, and falling off a horse and getting back on at age 87 without Elmer ever knowing, and most of all, her unconditional love for her family.  Condolences can be sent to 1655 Spider Lane Mora, MN 55051