Ruth Ohlhauser

Ruth Hoff was born in the family’s farmhouse near Carbon, Alberta on June 21, 1929 to parents Martha and Jacob Hoff, the second youngest of five children. Ruth was raised in a loving, Christian home and spent her early years on the family farm.

Ruth’s father, Jacob Hoff, was born in 1888 in Long Lake, South Dakota. In 1913, Jacob heard tell of a prosperous Canada and decided to venture north with his wife, Magdalena. The train journey was long and tiresome and they stopped at Irvin for seven days. Jacob went out into the Irvin district to search for land and during his walk darkness fell and a snow storm blew in. He wandered, lost. Coming upon an Indian teepee, which had been dug 3 feet into the ground, he thought his life was over. They took him in and kept him alive and warm overnight. In the morning the storm had let up and they directed him to the town of Irvin. Then upon hearing glowing reports, they soon decided the Carbon district was the place to settle.

Jacob brought with him his wife, two horses, a plow and wagon and two barrels—one for food to tide them through for a year and one of bedding, clothing and dishes. Along with this, he had $200. During this time, a daughter Freda was born and later they were blessed with another daughter, Ida. Times were hard and they had a lot of work ahead of them to turn the land into farming land. In March 1921, Maggie passed away in the bad flu epidemic, leaving Jacob with two small girls to raise. He hired a housekeeper, Elsie Sailer, who emigrated here from Saskatchewan with her parents, six sisters and four brothers. Jacob married Martha Sailer, a sister to Elsie, on November 22, 1921 and during the years that followed, they were blessed with three children: Otto (1924), Ruth (1929) and Theodore (1937).

Ruth attended Mosher School. Transportation to school in those days was sleigh by winter and cart in the spring and fall. Looking back to her school days, she remembers many a runaway with her horse. Sundays was a day to go to church and the church was Bethel Church, east of the farm. Christmas time brought many concerts and they would go all over and drove many miles to the local school and church concerts. All they needed was the horse and sleigh and in later years enough gas in the car and away they would go.In 1936, Jacob saved $250 dollars and took the family back to Ventura, North Dakota to visit family and friends. They took all their lunch along so it didn’t cost them anything for food. This trip fostered a special bond between Ruth and her many American cousins for years to come. The years and times were getting better until, in 1940, they lost Theodore, the youngest member of the family, in a truck accident.

In her late teens, Ruth began dating Ivean Ohlhauser, who was also raised in the Carbon area. A date in those early years was “I’ll be over if I can get the car.” Sometimes a tractor or horse had to do. Ivean’s father, Samuel, bought a 1938 green Plymouth that had three little horns. It is said that you could play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” with those horns. Milton Ohlhauser even got to be the chauffeur for some of these dates. After dating for a while, Ruth and Ivean became engaged in August, 1947. Less than two years later, on June 25, 1949, they were married at Carbon Baptist Church by Reverend Zepek from Trochu. Joyce Lang, Ruth’s older sister and Milton were the two witnesses at the wedding. It was a very dry spring that year but the day before the wedding, it started to rain. For the reception, no hotel was rented neither was there a caterer. Gramma Hoff cooked a goose meal and had the relatives over for one of her famous feasts. Their honeymoon was a four day vacation in Banff.

Ivean and Ruth moved onto the dairy farm that Samuel bought in Hubalta, right across from Hubalta Oil Refinery and there they began their life together. It was not easy. They worked hard to make a living from the land. Ruth had a job working for Masey’s corner store. It was during this time that Terry was born in April, 1951. In 1956, they moved to 26th Avenue N.E., Calgary and a second son, Rick was born in September, 1958. Seven years later in 1967, they were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Tamara Lynn. In December, 1962, they moved into a house they had built for them on 44th Avenue N.W.

Ivean and Ruth enjoyed travelling together, flying to Florida and Hawaii. Their favourite trips were travelling to Arizona with their motor home—a total of 14 trips were taken to Arizona, with the last being in 2003. Over a period of a few years, each of the grandchildren flew to Arizona to visit Gramma and Grampa for a week.

Ivean and Ruth also built many memories at Radium Hot Springs when “the gang”—mostly aunts, uncles and cousins would camp at Canyon Campground for an extended weekends. Aunt Hilda and Aunt Ella would bring strudel and toasted buns. They would all have a good time of fellowship.

Ruth accepted the Lord into her life during her early married life. She was a charter member of Brentview Baptist Church and remained a faithful believer until her death. She loved the fellowship of believers and was active in the women’s ministry for many years. During these years, the ladies’ volunteered at the downtown Bay during their sales and donated their wages towards church projects. Eventually this experience landed Ruth a part-time job at the Bay downtown where she worked for many years in the card department. Ruth and Ivean enjoyed being part of the “Come Doubles Club” at the church and most recently she was a member of Pastor Ron Kernohan’s seniors’ group.

Ivean passed away after a valiant battle with pulmonary fibrosis on July 14, 2009 to be with his Lord and Saviour and Ruth lived by herself in their villa until September 1, 2020 when she moved into Revera Scenic Acres. It wasn’t very long before she developed a circle of friends.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the Revera staff for their compassionate care, love and support to Ruth. We would also like to extend heartfelt thanks to Pastor Ron Kernohan, his wife Mary, Alvin Effa and others for their faithful visits to Mom.

Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, sister-in-law and friend, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 9, 2022 at the age of 93 with her loving sons by her side.

Mourning her loss are two sons Terry (Helen) and Rick (Wendy); five grandchildren Kirsten (Jonathon), Jonathan (Victoria), Michael (Rhonda), Kristel (Trevor) and Amanda (Rick); fourteen great-grandchildren Abigail, Dexter, Elijah, Emily, Ethan, Evalyn, Evander, Hudson, Huxley, Jonas, Lily, Owen, Shelby, Theodore. Ruth is also survived by her brother-in-law, Milton Ohlhauser of Calgary as well as her sister-in-law & brother-in-law, Priscilla and Marvin Busenius, of Edmonton. As well Ruth is survived by nieces, nephews and cousins. Ruth is predeceased by husband Ivean (2009), daughter Tamara, who sadly passed away at the age of 9 in Houston, Texas where she was scheduled to have heart surgery, mother Martha (1796), father Jacob (1976), brother Theodore (1940), sister Freda(1973), sister Ida(2000) and brother Otto (2016).

A scripture that reflects some of Ruth’s last days’ contemplation is found in 2 Timothy 4:6 and reads, “My life is coming to an end. I’ve fought the good fight. I’ve completed the race. I have kept the faith. The prize that shows I have God’s approval is now waiting for me.”

Ruth will be so dearly missed by all who knew her. Even though we mourn Ruth’s absence, we rejoice that she has gone to be with the Lord.

A Visitation will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Interment will be at Mountain View Cemetery, 1605–100 Street SE, Calgary, AB, on Friday, September 16, 2022 at 9:00 AM.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Brentview Baptist Church, 3512 – Charleswood Drive NW, Calgary, AB. on Friday, September 16, 2022 at 10:30 AM. Online viewing: www.brentview.church then click on the watch live button.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Those wishing to make a donation may consider Samaritan’s Purse, 20 Hopewell Way N.E., Calgary, AB T3J 5H5 or call 403-250-6565.