Ruth Spidahl

Ruth L. Spidahl, 91, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Thursday, July 15, 2010, at the Broen Memorial Home in Fergus Falls. Ruth Wilhelmina Clara Lieske was born in Henderson Township, Sibley County, Minnesota on March 28, 1919 to Friedrich and Rose H. (Thies) Lieske. She was baptized April 6, 1919 by M.F. Abraham, Evangelical Lutheran Pastor and confirmed March 20, 1932, at St. Johannes Evangelical Lutheran Church in Arlington, Minnesota by Pastor J. Busch. Ruth was raised in a farming community in rural Henderson, Minnesota, the youngest of seven children, five boys and two girls. She lost her mother at age seven to scarlet fever (April 30, 1926).    She attended parochial school near her home. She was a member of 4-H and won six trips to the Minnesota State Fair and one trip to the National Club Congress in Chicago with food and food demonstrations. Ruth received her high school diploma in 1943 from the School of Agriculture, St. Paul Campus. She received a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and Extension in 1947 from the University of Minnesota.   After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Ruth joined the University of Minnesota Agricultural Extension Service as a Home Agent in 1947, serving in Jackson, Stevens, Lincoln and Grant Counties from 1947 – 1964. In 1959 she was promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor of Extension as part of the state-wide University of Minnesota program. She received a Masters Degree in Education, Counseling and Guidance in 1965 from NDSU, Fargo.  She taught and counseled at NDSU in Fargo in the College of Home Economics as Assistant to the Dean and Associate Professor from 1966 – 1971.  On September 4, 1948, Ruth was married to James I. Spidahl at Jehovah Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN. Their son, Rodney, was born in Madison, MN in 1953. In 1954 they moved to Fergus Falls where James co-owned and managed Spidahl Ski and Sport Shop for 13 years. Ruth worked in Grant County as the County Extension Agent for Home Economics and later commuted to NDSU. In 1971 Ruth and James moved to Moscow, Idaho where she served as State Home Economics Leader for Idaho, Leader and Associate Director of Family Living Programs, and Professor of Home Economics and Extension at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.  As a Home Economist, Ruth was well known in the Fergus Falls and Elbow Lake communities and for a time, hosted her own radio program, Kitchen Corner, on KOTE radio Fergus Falls, and KMRS, Morris, Minnesota from 1959 – 1965. Ruth also wrote weekly columns for three Grant County Newspapers from 1958 – 1965. Ruth presented a monthly TV program for KCMT, Alexandria, Minnesota in 1965. After returning from Idaho in 1981, they retired to their much loved home on Stalker Lake, and Ruth worked as Team Leader and Job Developer of Rural Minnesota CEP (Concentrated Employment Program) until 1985. They lived there until 1995, spending time on Stalker Lake fishing, golfing, and caring for the flower gardens Ruth planted. James and Ruth visited Rod, Alice and family in Cameroon, Africa in 1988. James passed away July 15, 1996. Ruth was a life-long member of the Missouri Synod, including membership at Trinity Lutheran Church where she served on the Building, Missions, and Evangelism committees, and established and taught the Life-Light Bible Study. She and James were among the founding members of Faith Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. After retirement, Ruth helped get stained glass windows made for Faith Lutheran Church, was part of the Altar Guild, and worked on many committees. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Gerhardt, Elmer, Frederick, Herbert, Martin and Gertrude (Gens) Lieske. Ruth is survived by her one son, Rev. Rodney (Alice) J. Spidahl, PhD, Fergus Falls, MN, and three grandchildren, Seth Spidahl, Minot, ND, Andrew James Spidahl, Holland, MI, and Kristin Spidahl, Fergus Falls, MN. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with prayers and sharing at 7 p.m., and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church Service: 11 a.m. Friday, July 23, 2010, at Faith Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend Craig Palach Interment: Trinity-Faith Cemetery, Fergus Falls Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Suggested memorials are to the Gideons, Lakeland Hospice, or the Faith Lutheran Church.