Ruth G. Gilbertson Strand, age 94, passed away Friday, June 5, 2020 at Dove Health Care in Osseo, WI.
Ruth was born on April 13, 1926 in Iola, WI, the daughter of Osborne and Amy (Benson) Stamstad. She attended Iola public schools, graduating with the class of 1944. After graduating high school she moved to Oshkosh, WI. There she worked in the defense plant until her marriage to Glen H. Gilbertson on June 8, 1946. She then was employed at the Oshkosh Clinic in the office of C.H. Behnke M.D., until moving to Black River Falls, WI in 1956. Ruth and Glen owned and operated the G’s Texaco Café in Black River Falls until his death in 1969. Ruth later worked at Economy Loan Company, the Farmers Home Loan administration state offices in Stevens Point, WI, and the FmHA district office in Black River Falls until her retirement. Ruth married former classmate David L. Strand on November 10, 1992 at Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. For a number of years they made annual trips in March to enjoy Cactus League Spring Training baseball games in Phoenix, and November trips to New York City enjoying many Broadway plays and sightseeing. They traveled throughout the United States and visited both Central and South America and made three trips to Europe. She especially enjoyed flying around Wisconsin with Dave in his airplane. Ruth was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls and the Wisconsin State Rosemalling Association. Ruth was an avid reader and enjoyed many crafts including rosemaling, knitting, crocheting, painting and sewing.
Surviving Ruth are her daughter Bonnie (Dave) Thompson; her son-in-law Mark Richards; her foster son Rich (Peggy) Evans; her grandchildren: Craig (Lisa) Thompson, Tami (Max) Koxlien, Mark (Rebecca) Thompson, Peter (Amy Skroch) Richards, Matthew (Michelle) Richards; eight great-grandchildren; her brother Robert E. Stamstad and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter Barbara Richards; her parents Osborne and Amy Stamstad; her husband David L. Strand on September 13, 2014, her sister Anita (and Ken) Samer, a nephew Tom Stamstad, and a niece Sandra Kay Samer.
Funeral Services for Ruth will be Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the Torgerson Funeral Home, 408 N. Water St. in Black River Falls. Pastor Steve Rutter of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls will officiate with burial to follow at Riverside Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. The Torgerson Funeral Home is serving the family.