In Loving Memory
November 27, 1931 – March 10, 2025
It is with broken hearts we mourn the loss of our dear sweet Ruth, a mother, a grandmother, a great- grandmother, an auntie, a daughter, a sister, a friend.

Ruth Doris Coles, late of Prince Albert passed away peacefully at Mont St. Joseph Home at the age of 93 years.

Ruth was born on the homestead in the Parkside area. She was the fourth of the five children of Anne and Andrew Nelson. Ruth grew up on the family farm in the Mayview District where she received her schooling.

Together, she and Glenn Anderson (deceased) farmed in the Mayview area and raised their five children there. After leaving the farm, they purchased the resort business at Whelan Bay, White Swan Lake which they operated for a couple years before moving into Prince Albert. Ruth was employed as a carpenter in Prince Albert with Target 21, a construction company building modular homes. She truly loved this work, applied for and was accepted into a carpentry apprenticeship program which was just beginning to open up to women. Unfortunately, the program was only offered in Saskatoon which she was not able to accept as Prince Albert was home to her and her children. She remained working with Target 21 until they closed their doors.

Ruth’s last place of employment was with Parks Canada, Waskesui. While working there, she reacquainted with Leslie Coles, also an employee with the Parks. They were married on August 21, 1984, and she became a stepmother to three boys, now a family of eight. They enjoyed many years together spending weekends at their cabin at Whelan Bay. They loved fishing, snowmobiling, camping, gardening, picking berries, playing cards, entertaining family and friends. Ruth enjoyed cooking, baking, canning and feeding people, she always said “if you leave our house with an empty stomach, it’s your own fault”. After retirement in 1991, her dream came true, she and Les lived at Whelan Bay for 25 glorious years, enjoying every moment before moving to Prince Albert.

Ruth is survived by her children, Sharon (Kelly), Sandi (Clint), Gail (Kerry); her daughter-in-law, Sherry, her daughter, Tracy (Delano) and stepson Eric Coles (Roxanne); stepdaughters, Kathy and DarryAnn Coles; her sister, Marlene Abdai; as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and a few very special friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, Les; parents, Andrew and Anne Nelson; her dear son, Jerry; sister, Evelyn Lokken; brothers, Clarence and Henry Nelson; stepsons, Larry and Rick Coles; granddaughter, Heather Coles; grandsons, Kilian Walcer (Gail) and Rick Chapman (DarryAnn).

Honoring her wishes, her family and close friends will celebrate her life privately. Interment will be next to her late husband Leslie Coles in the Foxdale Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Dr. Dale Ardell for his many years of excellent care of our mother. A big thank you to the staff at Mont St. Joseph Home who were very kind and provided excellent care of our Mother.

Many thanks to Marianne Turcotte of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home for making one of the hardest events of our lives much easier.

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lori Saam, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322.

• Date : 2025-03-10
• Location : Prince Albert, SK