Ruth Palm, 100

Ruth Palm passed away in Reno, Nevada, June 16, 2023, at the age of 100. She was born in the Wayland community in Koochiching County, Minnesota, to Verna and Herbert Montgomery. When she was three years old, her mother unexpectedly died. She gained a stepmother when Herb married Josephine (Jo). When she was eight years old, her family in Wayland almost perished in the forest fire of 1931. They were spared when the wind changed direction.

Ruth was an active working woman. She graduated from high school in Baudette, Minnesota, and joined the WWII home front effort with her work in airplane assembly. In 1946, she and Ellis Palm were married in Saint Paul upon his discharge from the USMC. They returned to Lake of the Woods County, where they began farming in the Hay Creek community. In addition to farming and raising their two children, Carol and Kenneth, Ruth worked in Baudette in food service and retail sales.

Ruth and Ellis moved from the farm to Baudette in 1973, where they enjoyed their involvement in the American Legion, the VFW, bowling, and fishing. After Ellis passed in 1995, Ruth continued her volunteer work in the VFW Auxiliary and the First Congregational Church (UCC). She also enjoyed taking car and bus trips all across the country, including Alaska. Her longest trip was with her friend Polly to Australia. Ruth’s favorite hobby was playing cards with friends. She was especially skilled at cribbage, which she continued to play to her 99th year.

Ruth moved to Pasco, Washington, in 2003 to live with her daughter Carol. She soon began playing cribbage at the Pasco Senior Center, where she met her dear friend Ardith. In 2018, Ruth moved to Reno, Nevada, where she was looked after lovingly by her son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Perralina.

In addition to her daughter Carol Coker and son and daughter-in-law Ken and Perralina Palm, Ruth is survived by her grandchildren William, Kristina, Tonya, Carlette, and Justin, and by six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Also mourning her passing are her sister Dorothy, sisters-in-law Margaret and Velma, and nieces and nephews. Preceding Ruth in death are her husband Ellis, her siblings Marian, Estelle, Alice, Margaret, H. George, and Robert, and her grandson Jeffery.

Interment of Ruth’s ashes in Elm Park Cemetery, Baudette, Minnesota, is being planned for late this summer.