Ruth Hetland
Posted Jul 5, 2017 | 7:34 PM
June 22, 1922 – June 29, 2017
It is with much love and great sadness the family wishes to announce the passing of Ruth Hetland on Thursday, June 29, 2017. Ruth was born June 22, 1922 in Melfort, Saskatchewan. Ruth, one of seven, took her schooling in Pathlow, Sask., from August 1929 to June 1941. The fall of 1941 she left home to attend Normal School in Moose Jaw and graduated June 1942. Her first teaching position was Kalabank School on the 44 Trail where she taught 8 grades and supervised grades nine and ten students. She then moved to Spalding in September 1943 and taught grades 1 to 4 and continued to teach until June 1947. She met her husband, Orville, in October 1943 in Spalding when he was unloading firewood at the school. They were engaged the fall of 1944 and were married July 22, 1946 when Orville returned from serving overseas in World War II. They lived on the Hogenson farm east of Spalding until August 1956. Ruth and Orville had five beautiful children which were their pride and joy. The call of the classroom returned. Ruth taught grades 1 to 3 in Spalding from 1958 until 1985 after a stop at Sunnyview school for 2 years. Her legacy was teaching her young students to read and write covering three generations of families. She also was very proud of the fact that she taught her own children the joy of reading and also her grandchildren. After 35 years of teaching, she retired in June 1985. She now had the time to be more active in her church family and community. She served on the church council and library board. She spent many hours in her garden of vegetables and flowers. The whole family benefited from her canning and baking and knitting. She knit many pairs of mittens, slippers and Christmas stockings for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was famous for her cinnamon buns and cookies. She actively coached her daughters and granddaughters in making lefse for every Christmas. She was the glue that brought the whole family together to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Blessed be her memory! She moved from her home in Spalding to Prince Albert in 2009 to be closer to her family. She made another move to Caleb Village in 2015 where she was very happy. Ruth was predeceased by her beloved husband, Orville; her father and mother, Victor and Anna Vigrass; her sister Lillian McConnell; her son-in-law Raymond Leicht; and many beloved extended family members. Ruth will be fondly remembered by her daughters, Eleanor Leicht; Darlene (David) Eberle; Faith (Frank) Mazurek; Judy (Laurence) Roy and her son Dale (Cathy) Hetland; her 14 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren; and her sisters Marguerite Burke; Louise (Frank) Szezpanski; Barbara McKnight and her brothers Laurence (Glenna) Vigrass and Howard (June) Vigrass. A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Messiah Lutheran Church, 1796 – 15 Avenue East, Prince Albert. Interment will be held Wednesday, July 12 at the Dovre Lutheran Cemetery in Spalding, SK at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of other tributes, donations may be made to Messiah Lutheran Church, 1796 – 15th Avenue East, Prince Albert, Sask. S6V 8A1. Condolences May be sent to the family at www.gray’s.ca Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray’s Funeral Chapel (306-922-4729).
- Date : 2017-06-29