Memorial Services for Ruth G. Spain, 91, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11:00 A. M. on Friday, July 21, 2017, at Crossroads Church, Albert Lea. Friends may visit with family one hour before the service at the church. Private interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery, Albert Lea.
Ruth passed away on Friday, July 14, at 8:55 A.M. in Sheltering Arms at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea.
She was born on July 20, 1925, to her parents Lee and Minnie Pearl (Wooten) Huff in Piedmont, South Carolina. On graduating from the Wesleyan Methodist College in Central , S.C., she went to Washington D.C. and worked in the Marriott (Hot Shoppes) restaurants. While there she met her future husband Ted Spain, who was in the Navy and stationed at the Naval Research Laboratory. When the War ended they married, but remained in Washington until he received his discharge in March of 1946. After separation from the service she and Ted returned to Hollandale and farmed, growing potatoes and onions. Ruth was a member of the Conservative Congregational Church of Hollandale where she taught Sunday School, Release Time Bible Classes, Daily Vacation Bible School, was active in the Ladies Aide and was an instructional aide at the local school. She was active in PTA, Youth for Christ, Civic Music, Home Extension, Christian Women’s Club and Naeve Partners in Health. She also did school census.
In 1988 she and her husband moved to Albert Lea and became charter members of Crossroads Evangelical Free Church.
She had a great sense of humor and will be remembered for her quick, witty responses to comments. She loved children, especially playing with babies. In their retirement Ruth and Ted loved to travel in their fifth wheel trailer six months out of the year for thirteen years and in every state in the union. They seldom stayed at one place more than two to three weeks but moved on to something new and different. They also enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Alaska and Israel.
Ruth is survived by her husband Ted, daughter Sheila Dawn (Goodwin) Spain of Portland, OR, and son Galen Mark (Elaine) Spain of Otisco, MN; grandchildren: Dawn Jodell (Richard) Gonzales of Portland, OR, Douglas William (Jill) Goodwin of Portland, OR, Benjamin Mark (Stacey) Spain of Woodbury, MN, Sarah Beth (Jim) Olson of Willow Lake, SD, Daniel Jacob (Kristen) Spain of St. Peter, MN, great grandchildren:
Elias, Grayce, Izzy, Annika, Isaiah, Hannah, Corbin, Athena, and Marisa; one great great granddaughter; Harper. One brother survives; Kenneth (Mary Nann) Huff of Simpsonville, SC, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Vivian, Olivia, brother Norman, and step sisters, Blanche, Viola, and stepbrother Ralph.
Special thanks to the staff at Sheltering Arms, St. John’s for their loving care.
Memorials to Youth for Christ or charity of your choice.