Ruth M. Mack
Ruth M. Mack, 80, Fessenden, North Dakota passed away Monday, May 22, 2023, at St. Aloisius Medical Center, Harvey, North Dakota. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Fessenden, North Dakota. Frs. Jeff Eppler and Steven Wirth will officiate, and burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Fessenden, North Dakota. Visitation will be from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Monday at Nelson Funeral Home, Fessenden. A rosary and vigil service will be at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Arrangements are with Nelson Funeral Home, Fessenden, North Dakota.
Ruth was born in Harvey on March 29, 1943, to Lloyd and Esther Fossen. She lived on a farm with her five siblings near Heimdal ND while attending school through the 8th grade. She attended high school in Fessenden, graduating in 1961. On December 26, 1964, she married Daniel Mack at St Augustine Parish in Fessenden. For the next few years, they lived in Valley City where Ruth worked as a bank teller. The couple moved to Linton ND where they welcomed the birth of their son. They stayed until 1970 before moving to Grand Forks for 2 years, followed by Havre Montana and Columbus Nebraska. All along the way, she continued working at banks or law firms.
In 1977 the family moved back to Fessenden, where Ruth and Dan purchased the Wells County Abstract Company. For the next 30 years she and Dan worked together until they both retired and sold the company in July 2007.
During the years in Fessenden, in addition to taking care of her family, Ruth participated in many community activities that included a Homemakers group, Birthday Club, Red Hats, Fessenden Country Club, and the women’s group at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Every summer during the County Fair, you could find Ruth at the Catholic Church Food Stand as the chairperson for multiple shifts and doing what was necessary to help prepare great meals and serve the community.
She loved flowers and for many years she kept numerous flower beds in the yard with all varieties of flowers. She loved digging in the dirt and adding new plants each spring. Her favorite times in the flower bed were the times she picked flowers with her granddaughter Courtney.
After retiring from the Abstract office, Ruth found a passion working at the Fessenden Thrift Shop. She loved being active, helping people, contributing to the community, but she especially enjoyed her co-workers and the time she spent with each of them. Ruth shared many stories from the Thrift Shop, about the work and the satisfaction from the opportunities to help people.
Ruth is survived by her loving husband of 59 years Dan; her son Kirk (Janet) of Galveston TX; one granddaughter Courtney of Galveston TX; two sisters Janice (Melvin) Erfle of Mandan and Sylvia Reimche of Minot, two brothers Lyle (Bonnie) Fossen of Minot and Richard (Mary) Fossen of Billings MT. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Gary.
