Ruby Holmaas, 77, died on Sunday, October 8, 2006 at Northwest Medical Center, CNC Unit in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral Service will be at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 14, 2006 at Westaker Lutheran Church in Newfolden, MN with Reverend Philip Rokke and Reverend Jerry Holmaas officiating. Burial will be in Westaker Cemetery, rural Newfolden, MN.

Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Friday, October 13, 2006 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a 7:00 P.M Prayer Service on Friday evening and at the church for one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Ruby Margaret Lindstrom was born on January 30, 1929, to Martin and Allie Lindstrom of rural Osakis, MN. The youngest of eight children, Ruby became very ill as a newborn and was hospitalized with little hope of surviving. Her mother sent word to the children at home to pray, and her older siblings recall the tears of joy when they learned that Ruby would live. Ruby thrived and attended school in Osakis, graduating with the class of 1947. As a child born the year of the stock market crash, she experienced the depression first hand. Her family was musical and her parents wanted to provide piano lessons for their young daughter, but money was scarce. The kind wife of a doctor, offered to teach Ruby piano in exchange for eggs and with that arrangement, she took a couple years of piano lessons.

After graduation, she worked in Minneapolis for a year and then attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, working part time as a nurses aide at Swedish Hospital. At LBI she met a young man from Newfolden, MN. At Easter, he brought her home to meet his family and on November 27, 1949, Ruby married Stan Holmaas. They began their lifework together as owners and operators of Stans Grocery in Newfolden. Ruby played piano at Westaker Church, directed junior and adult choirs and often sang solos at church playing her autoharp. She taught Sunday School, and led Sunday School music for many years. Ruby was the mother of four children, Jerry, Marlene, Wanda and Russell. She loved to make a play on words and loved to make people smile. Her cheerful personality endeared her to her nieces and nephews. Ruby was content in her home and surroundings and found great enjoyment in a Sunday afternoon ride with Stan and a thermos of coffee. The hardest day of her life was when she learned her dear husband had pancreatic cancer. This lady, who, when raising her children found it difficult to deal with scraped knees, lovingly cared for her husband at home as he died of cancer. In 2001, Ruby moved to the little stucco house on Minnesota Ave. and thoroughly enjoyed decorating her home with bird figurines, flowers and things lacy and pretty. In August of 2005 she was diagnosed with cancer that had spread to her brain, and in October moved to the CNC unit of Northwest Medical Center.

Ruby is survived by her children, Jerry (Ruth) of Brooklyn Park, MN, Marlene (Phil) Rokke of Newfolden, MN, Wanda (Kevin) Spading of Chisago City, and Russ (Vickie) of Thief River Falls, MN, eleven grandchildren, Luke Holmaas, Josh (Kristy) Rokke, Jessica (Darin) Jacobson, Ben (Suzy) Rokke, Kristi Rokke, Aaron, Corrine, Seth and Lydia Spading, Allisa and Andy Holmaas, also four great grandchildren, Cole and Jada Rokke, Ruby Joy and Levi Jacobson. Brother Morris (Joyce) Lindstrom of Coon Rapids, MN, sisters, Myrtle Fjerestad of Minneapolis, MN and Gladys (Ivan) Petersen of Grantsburg, WI, sisters-in-law, Carol Lindstrom, Harriet Lindstrom and Lucille Bornholdt, also Lillian Holmaas and Jean Holmaas, plus many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Esther, brothers, Clifford, Wilbur and Irvin, one nephew, Gene Fjerestad and her husband, Stan, as well as several brothers and sisters in law.

She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Elim Lutheran Church, rural Osakis, MN and her faith in Jesus Christ sustained her through her entire life. She lived with an attitude of thanksgiving to God and to all who helped her in any way.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

PIANISTS: Aaron Spading and Ruth Holmaas
SPECIAL MUSIC: Aaron Spading, It is Well With My Soul , Westaker Mens Choir, My Faith Looks Up to Thee , Wendy Blazejewski, No More Night and I Can Only Imagine
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: I Look Not Back #400, What Wondrous Love Is This #72, He Leadeth Me #447
PALLBEARERS: Luke Holmaas, Joshua Rokke, Benjamin Rokke, Aaron Spading, Seth Spading and Andrew Holmaas
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Jessica Jacobson, Kristi Rokke, Corrine Spading, Lydia Spading and Allisa Holmaas