Ruth Townsend

Funeral service for Ruth L. Townsend, 84, of Baker will be 11:00 a. m. Friday, October 24, 2008 at Stevenson Funeral Home with Rev. Mark D. Arnold officiating. Burial will follow at Bonnievale Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11:00 a. m. to 9:00 p. m. Thursday, October 23, 2008 at Stevenson Funeral Home with a prayer service taking place at 7:00 p. m. Ruth passed away Saturday, October 18, 2008 at Billings Clinic in Billings, MT with family members at her side. Ruth Lorraine Albert was born on May 27, 1924 to Herbert Berthold and Florence Adelaide (Lundstrom) Albert in Ekalaka, Montana. Following her Mothers? death September 12, 1935, her father married Erma Hobbs on August 29, 1938. Ruth always considered Erma as her Mother and they were very close through out the years. Ruth attended school in Ekalaka, graduating from Carter County High School in 1942. She attended Montana State University in Bozeman for a year before completing her education at Presentation School of Nursing, Holy Rosary unit in Miles City, graduating as a Registered Nurse. Over the next several years, Ruth worked as a registered nurse at various hospitals through out the state, that included, Columbus Hospital in Great Falls; Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City, and Dahl Memorial Hospital in Ekalaka. Ruth was married to Robert B. Townsend on January 26, 1947 in Bozeman, MT. Ruth enjoyed being a housewife and a mother and quite often found her nurse?s training to come in handy as the family grew to seven active children. The untimely death of her husband, Robert, on July 8, 1963 left Ruth with a large family to raise and the need to find a job outside her home. Ruth began work as an Optometrist Assistant for Dr. Melvin Rogstad in Baker in 1965 and kept this position until 1971. During this time she was a member of the Optometrist Assistants of Montana. She later worked as an insurance clerk and bookkeeper at Fallon Memorial Hospital. In 1976 Ruth went to work for the State of Montana in the Fallon County Assessor?s office until she retired in 1986. Ruth then worked part time at Townsend Accounting Service. While her seven children were in school, Ruth was very involved with their school activities, which included: Baker High School Band Mothers, Baker High School Booster Club and the PTA; Brownie Scout leader and a Cub Scout den mother. She was able to follow the children?s sports and musical activities often acting as a chaperone for many out of town events. She later enjoyed attending these same activities to watch her grandchildren and great grandchildren. In 1979 Ruth was honored to be chosen as Montana Mother of the Year. She later served on various positions with the Montana Mothers Association affiliated with the National American Mothers Association, Inc. Ruth was also chosen as Baker Beta Sigma Phi?s First Lady of the Year in 2000. An active member of Baker Community Church, United Church of Christ, since 1953, Ruth served her church on boards such as: Trustees Diaconate; Christian Education; Stewardship and Mission; Nominating committee; Search committee; and Building committee. Other church activities include Women?s Fellowship and Ladies Aid, singing in the Church Choir, teaching summer Bible School and Sunday school. Music has always played a very important role in Ruth?s life. She was a member of Community Concert Association of Glendive and Miles City concert series. She also began singing weekly at Fallon Medical Nursing Home (Folk Singers) in 1980 and continued as a member of the O?Fallon Community Choir for over 25 years. Ruth served as a member of the Extension Homemaker?s Club and later with the Fallon County Homemakers Club. She also served as a member of the Fallon County Library Board, member of RSVP Board; Baker Senior Citizens; and Fallon County Federal Credit Union Chairperson. For the past year and a half, Ruth has resided at Quality Personal Care Assisted Living in Baker where she was able to continue to be socially active and enjoy her life and her family. Survivors include her children:Jerry (Janet) Townsend of Baker, their children Angie (Ryan) Moser (Shay and Shelby), Rob and Julie Townsend (Kyra and Hunter), Jay and Rikki Townsend (LilyBeth and Jerrick). Becky (Jerry) Knutson of Billings, their children David (Karlyn) Knutson (Haley and Jacob), Craig (Lisa) Knutson (Connor) and Kathleen Knutson,Dawn (Tom) Demos of Bakersfield, CA, their children Nick Demos and Bob (Devon) Demos (Madison, Emily, Zachary, Jaycie and Reagan). Herb (Martha) Townsend of Laurel, their children Eric (Christine) Townsend and Marcie Townsend,Steve (Camy) Townsend of Baker, their children Gary (Dana) Townsend, Christina (Chad) Shepherd (Kendall and Danica) and Clint Townsend, Wayne Sampson, son-in-law of Billings, and children Jena (Jason) Hagemeister (Alexie and Aiden) and Jarod Sampson. Scott (Mary) Townsend of Aberdeen, SD and their child Danny Townsend. Always considered as her daughter, Shirley (John) Prosch of Coeur d? Alene, Idaho and their children Carol (Robert) Warbrick (Levi and Amy) and Steven (Kate) Prosch (Jeremy, Larissa, Emily, and Kaylee),Also surviving are Ruth?s brothers Dean (Dottie) Albert of Great Falls and Rex (Jeanne) Albert of Phoenix, AZ. Always special to Ruth and her family were her in-laws: Herb and Georgetta McCamish and their family members and Lloyd and Phyllis Townsend and their family members. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (Bob) Townsend, both of her parents and her daughter Susan Sampson


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Burial Date: October 24, 2008
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Friday; Stevenson Funeral Home, Baker, MT