Ruth Louisa Margaret (Hunter) Ewen was born on the family farm near Saskatoon, second child of three to Mary Sarah (Murray) and James Copland Hunter, on May 18, 1922. Ruth passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 3, 2022 at the age of 100 years and 77 days in Watrous, Saskatchewan. Ruth had a strong sense of family, community, faith and education. Ruth fondly remembered her childhood with family - time with her brothers and cousins. She attended Kilkenny and Blackley Schools before attending City Park Collegiate in Saskatoon for high school. After high school, Ruth saved up money to attend Normal School to achieve her Teaching Certificate. Ruth was a true lifelong learner, believing you can learn every day from anyone you meet. She would upgrade her teaching certificate with university classes as well as taking community college courses of interest. Ruth began her teaching career in spring 1941 when her Normal School class was offered the option of either writing their final exams for their teaching certificates or getting special certificates to teach at isolated schools who had been without teachers all year to earn their regular certificates. Ruth said it was an easy choice! And off she went to teach at Nobleville School east of Archerwill. Ruth would go on to teach at Juniata (near Asquith) and Dafoe before going to teach at Halliburton. It was upon arriving in Jansen to teach at Haliburton School that Ruth met her husband, Jim Ewen, in 1943. They married in Saskatoon on June 27, 1946. They were blessed with seven children and were part of the communities of Lockwood, Jansen and Drake while they raised their family. Ruth enjoyed seeing her children and grandchildren active in sports and the community. No matter where she lived, Ruth enjoyed being part of community and church organizations and activities. Throughout her life, Ruth was active on local school boards, local and division Home and School, recreation boards, 4H, community, sport and political organizations at several levels, the United Church, the Silver Sages in Drake and the Merry Mixers in Lanigan as well as the Hospital Auxiliary. In 2000, Ruth was named Lanigan’s Senior Citizen of the Year in honour of her community work. Ruth was involved with sport too. She was an active curler for many years and was a huge fan of the game her whole life. In her younger days, she was goalie for the Haliburton women’s hockey team. While raising her family, Ruth continued to work as a teacher, then later as manager of the T. Eaton’s Catalogue Store in Lanigan and sales clerk at the Drake Co-op. She was self-employed as Avon and Watkins sales representatives for many years as well. Ruth was well known for her contributions to many local newspapers as the writer of the Drake News. Ruth loved travelling, whether taking historical bus tours around Saskatchewan, travelling within Canada or abroad. Ruth twice was able to travel to Scotland to meet family and trace family roots including visits to Hunterston Castle, the ancestral home of the Hunter Clan with whom she held clan membership until her death. She also visited locations around the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and Europe, noting that Switzerland was her favourite place to visit. These trips almost always included gifts for her grandchildren upon her return. In retirement, Ruth lived in Lanigan and then Drake before moving into Long Term Care in Watrous at the end of April 2021. Wherever she lived, Ruth enjoyed visits with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends to hear about their lives and adventures. Ruth had a knack for organization and kept track of important dates. Family and friends could count on receiving a birthday or anniversary card from her each year. Ruth was predeceased by her husband Jim, her parents James and Mary Hunter, stepmother Gertrude Hunter, in-laws William and Jean Ewen, brother Bill (Phyllis and second wife Connie), brother Eric (Renee), son-in-law Ray Daelick, daughter-in-law Karen Fehr as well as all of her Ewen sisters and brothers-in-law. Ruth is survived by her children: daughter Mary Daelick and her children Corinne, Barbara (Regan), Colette; son George (Karen) and his children Kristina, Jason (Stefanie), Steven, Marlessa (Clayton), Tony; son Ken (Arlene) and his children Doug, Lynn (Ryan), Mike; son Rob (Carolyn) and his children Catherine, Tyler; daughter Margaret (Gary) Ewen Peters and her children Heather (Josephine), Amy, Cory (Lindsay); son David (Janice) and his children Brennon, Janelle (Carter), Dean (Jenn); son Neil (Shelley) and his children Erin (Ryan), Kari, Jesse, Danny as well as eighteen great-grandchildren.
SERVICE INFORMATION: In loving memory of RUTH LOUISA MARGARET EWEN (HUNTER) aged 100 years
PRIVATE FAMILY INTERMENT: Lockwood Cemetery
CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE: Knox United Church, Lanigan, Sask. Tuesday August 23, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.
OFFICIANTS: Frances Kitson Rev. Jack Robson
REGISTER ATTENDANTS: Lynn McDonald, Janelle Martin
USHERS: Doris & Garth Burns
READERS: Amy Peters Dean Ewen
LIFE STORY & MEMORIES: Margaret Ewen Peters, Corinne Daelick, Kari Ewen
MEMORIAL LUNCHEON: Knox United Church UCW
For online condolences, tributes or memorial donations please visit:https://fotheringham-mcdougall.com/
