Ruth Rieger

Ruth Ann Rieger, 79, was born April 13, 1943, in Cooperstown, ND, and passed away peacefully with family by her side on October 6, 2022, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. 

Ruth was born to Edward and Ellen Gilbertson and grew up on the family farm near Cooperstown, ND.  She had many great memories from her life on the farm with her parents, brother Carl, and sisters Elaine and Janice.  She always said that she couldn’t have asked for better parents and that she had a wonderful childhood. After graduating from Cooperstown High School in 1961, Ruth went on to pursue a two-year degree in Drafting and Estimating at the Wahpeton State School of Science.  She graduated from Wahpeton in May 1963 as the only woman in her class, with only five women preceding her in that certification.  During her drafting career, she spoke of dealing with male bosses that would want her to do more secretarial work than actual drafting which was what she loved and was hired for.  Thankfully, times have changed.

After graduating, Ruth moved to Arizona on her own for a short time for a job opportunity.  She decided that wasn’t for her and moved back home and married Gerald Bear in December 1963.  Ruth and Gerald had two children together.  Jeff was born in December 1969 and Julie in July 1970.  They lived and worked in Fargo until moving to Grand Forks in 1972.  Ruth worked in a film processing company for a few years while in Fargo where she said she worked in a very dark room all day and had small scars on her hands and arms from the hot film processing equipment.  Ruth and Gerald built a house on Chestnut Street in Grand Forks in 1973 living there with Jeff and Julie while raising them in a great neighborhood with many good friends and children of the same age.

Ruth married Rodger Rieger in June 1993.  Ruth and Rodger enjoyed creating crafts and selling them in their business, R&R Creations.  Rodger was very talented in woodworking and along with Ruth’s painting skills and artistic talents, they made quite the pair.  They lived and worked in Grand Forks for quite a few years before moving to Fargo, ND, for a couple years and then retiring in Blackduck, MN.  They enjoyed 20 some good years together while spending time at their cabin on Gull Lake, which they shared with Ruth’s sister Elaine and husband Herb.  They loved spending time at the cabin renovating, building additions, holding reunions, and spending time with family and friends.

Ruth spent most of her work life at EAPC in Grand Forks, ND, before working in the Grand Forks Public School system as a paraprofessional before her retirement.  What she loved the most was taking care of other people including her husbands, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  She was a fierce defender and protector of all her children and grandchildren.  According to them, she always put others first and was never thinking of herself but always if others were safe and happy.  Ruth was very involved in her church life while she was able and had a steadfast faith in God.  She belonged to St. Marks Lutheran in Grand Forks, University Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, and Zion Lutheran Church in Blackduck during her adult life and was incredibly involved with events and groups including singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, serving for funerals and fellowship times, and attending bible study.  Ruth was definitely the faith leader in the family.  Even though during the last few years, because of her Parkinson’s, it was harder for her to enjoy being physically active with her hands doing crafts and playing the piano, which she also loved, Ruth never complained and always had a great attitude.  She enjoyed her last six years living at Parkwood Assisted Living where she made many great friends and received excellent care.  Along with family and friends being able to visit frequently, her Parkwood family helped make her last years very enjoyable and she was very grateful for that.  Ruth’s relationship with God and Pastor Tom Colenso were invaluable to her and helped get her through losing her husband and two grandchildren within the last six years of her life and allowed her to continue to be the glue that kept the family together.

Ruth is survived by her son Jeff Bear;  daughter Julie (Rick) Simon; stepson Tom Rieger; grandchildren Beau (Taylor) Simon, Natalie (Joe) Martin; great-grandchildren Kyleigh Maixner, Bailey Guillemette, Macy Schafer, Baby Martin (due November 2022); brother Carl (Karen) Gilbertson; sister Elaine (Herb) Peterson, sister Janice (Larry) Kaberle; Rodger’s brother Maynard, and sisters Vicki and Vonnie; and many nieces and nephews. 

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Rodger (2016), granddaughter Kristen Bear (2017), grandson Alex Bear (2021), and parents Ellen and Edward Gilbertson. 

Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 11, 2022 in University Lutheran Church, Grand Forks with visitation one hour before the service in the church.  Memorials are preferred to University Lutheran Building Fund.