Ruth M. Jordan
Ruth M. Jordan, 88, passed away August 3, 2003 while living at The Waterford. She was born to William R. Jordan and Mabel (Bolstad) Jordan in Luverne, North Dakota.
Ruth attended high school in Luverne, the State Teachers College in Valley City, ND, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Moorhead State University. She did post-graduate work at the University of Montana. She taught school in North Dakota, Wyoming, and Helena, Montana for 44 years, 32 of them at the Bryant and Ray Bjork schools in Helena, retiring in 1977. She was the "Helena" Teacher of the Year in 1973.
Ruth was active in St. John's Lutheran Church, Alpha Chapter, AAUW, Needlepoint Guild, and the International Study Group. She knitted 10-15 baby caps per month for the newborn at St. Peter's Hospital.
From childhood her aim was to see the world. At one time she counted 48 countries she had visited. Some of the highlights were "helihiking" in the Canadian Rockies, hot air ballooning in Kenya, helicoptering in the Himalayas out of Katmandu and landing at a Sherpa Village, walking on the Great Wall of China, seeing the strange animals in the Galapagos, visiting Machu Picchu in the high Andes of Peru, seeing the Taj Mahal in the moonlight, plus cathedrals and castles in Europe and around the world.
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She spent 4 summers as a Camp Fire Girl Counselor in Camp Tanadoona outside of Minneapolis, MN and at Camp Adahi outside of Birdsboro, PA. She joined the American Youth Hostels and hiked 50 miles on the Horseshoe and Appalachian Trail to sightsee in Valley Forge.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers; twin brother John, William, Richard and David. She is survived by her long-term friend and fellow teacher, Carolyn Westvelt and her sister-in-law Alice (William) Jordan. She is also survived by her brother William's children -- Noel (Carol) Jordan, Cynthia (Dave) Clausnitzer, William (Diane) Jordan, and Mark (Brenda) Jordan; by her brother Richard's children, John (Carolyn) Jordan, Robert (Kay) Jordan, Celine (Charles) Osborn, Ruthann Jordan and Paula (Kim) Jones, plus 20 grandnieces and grandnephews.
Cremation has taken place and the ashes will be taken to the family plot at the Luverne, North Dakota Cemetery. Retz Funeral Home is caring for the arrangements.
A memorial service will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday, August 16, 2003 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Helena with a lunch at The Waterford-- 915 Saddle Drive immediately following.