Twenty days after her 98th birthday, Ruby Mae Gysler passed away at 5:15 pm, April 27th, 2017 at Faith Lutheran Home in Wolf Point, MT. In her words, she went “to be with the Lord on high”.
Ruby was born April 7th, 1919, the middle child of John and Ivy Jenson in Underwood, North Dakota, which is now covered by Garrison Dam. Ruby grew up in Audubon, Minnesota where her father had farmed and worked on threshing crews with his brothers. During the Great Depression, he built WPA Roads, while Ivy nurtured the girls. Ruby graduated Salutatorian of her class in 1936 and hitchhiked to Morehead State for two years to earn a teaching degree after which she taught at a small school in Minnesota.
When World War II started, Ruby answered the call to build Boeing Airplanes in Seattle, our own Ruby the Riveter. Ruby’s favorite activity in Seattle was to go dancing with her friends and all the returning servicemen. At one of these dances, she met Kermit Gysler who had just returned from duty serving with the Army in the Pacific. After the war, they married in Seattle and had their first child, Shelley. A year later, they move to a small farm near Kermit’s hometown of Plentywood, where they had their second child, John. Kermit ran a delivery route for the Plentywood Creamery all around Northeastern Montana, and Ruby stayed home with the kids.
In the fall of 1965, Shelley went to college and Ruby, Kermit and John moved to Wolf Point, Montana, to open a Coast-to-Coast hardware store. Kermit loved hunting and sporting goods and with a background in engineering liked fixing things. Ruby was known for her housewares and gifts. Though the first years were challenging, their hard work and community involvement soon paid off and the store thrived. After 11 years, they built a new store on the north side of Main Street.
In early 1980s for Kermit’s health, they sold the store to their son and retired to Seattle leaving their hearts in Wolf Point. In Seattle, family visited as often as possible. Ruby enjoyed spending time with her younger sister, Goldie who also lived in Seattle. The oldest two grandchildren would also spend alternating summers with Ruby and Kermit. In 1991, Kermit passed away, and as promised, Ruby returned home. Back in Wolf Point, she said she was blessed to be a part of her grandchildren’s lives while they were growing up. As a former teacher and a fine student, Ruby had a wonderful way of helping her grandchildren. Ruby had an eye for style, was lovingly assertive and a peaceful refuge.
In 2010, Ruby decided it was time to go to Faith Lutheran Home. Once she moved to the home, she realized all her friends were there. She also enjoyed making new friends with the residents and the wonderful staff there. The Faith Lutheran staff provided exceptional tender loving care to her.
Ruby enjoyed baking pies, caramel rolls, krumkake and lefse to share with her family and friends. She loved her rose garden and giving roses to friends. Also, she liked surprising friends with carnations–“Ruby’s Special”–from Friesen’s floral. Ruby had many groups of friends, including the Presbyterian church, VFW Auxiliary, Widow’ Support Group, the employees and customers of the store.
Ruby is greatly missed by her family and friends. We like to think she is dancing with her husband in heaven.
Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her sisters Leona and Goldie. She is survived by her daughter Shelley, son John and his wife Marguerite, her grandchildren Jackie, Suzy, Paul and Jenny and her great-grandson Little Kermit.