Ruth Thingelstad

Ruth (Stamness) Thingelstad, age 83, of Northwood, ND, unexpectedly passed away Friday, August 12, 2022, at Northwood Deaconess Hospital surrounded by her husband, five children, and family. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 20, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Ebenezer Free Lutheran Church in Northwood. A visitation will be held Friday, August 19, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at the church.

Ruth was born January 19, 1939, in Northwood, the daughter of Andrew and Thonetta (Twenge) Stamness.  She married the love of her life, Gerald (Jerry) Thingelstad on February 4, 1956, cherishing over 66 years together.  She graduated from Northwood High School in 1957.  She received her teaching certificate from Mayville Normal School shortly after that and taught in a one room schoolhouse in rural Northwood.  She then became a fulltime homemaker, raising five wonderful children and taking her family wherever her husband Jerry’s teaching/administrative jobs would take them.  In 1973, they moved back to their hometown of Northwood, ND to become business owners by taking over a grocery store, and renaming it Jerry’s Value Center, which offered the best candy selection in town and home delivery.  She was a pillar of the community, taking care of customers at the store, delivering meals-on-wheels, and being a member of the Ebenezer Lutheran Church’s Ladies Aide (where they served many a meal and cleaned the church many a time).

Ruth was a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother, a fun-loving friend, a very successful homemaker and business owner, a great cook/baker, a generous host, and a hardworking member of her community.  She enjoyed hanging out with friends, playing Pinochle and Bridge, dancing, doing crossword puzzles, cleaning, going for rides, and chocolate & peanut butter.  But most of all she loved being with her family.  She loved going on family road trips, attending family get-togethers, watching grandchildren’s activities, and just spending time with the ones she loved.

Ruth taught her family so many things.  Among them, how to waltz; how to have a whole lot of fun without spending a whole lot of money; to always leave a place cleaner than you found it; to never let anyone leave your house hungry; and to remind each other of your love with a kiss and a hug before you leave.  She has definitely left a legacy. We love you wife, mom, grandma, great grandma, great great grandma.  You will truly be missed.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Jerry; sister, Marlene Hoeroff, Heron SD; brother, Andrew Stamness, Northwood, ND; cousin, Eileen Paulson, Arvilla, ND; sister-in-law, Rosalie Dobson, Vista CA; children: Melinda (Randy) Kapp, Medina, ND, Nathan (Mary) Thingelstad, Hatton, ND, Tamara (Tom) Peterick, Hatton, ND, Mechelle (Jeff) Erlendson, Crystal, ND, Tracy (Justin) Foss, Hatton, ND; grandchildren: Michael (Tia) Kapp, Carrie (Tyler Owens) Kapp, Matthew (Samantha) Kapp, Corey (Alexa) Kapp, Brian Kapp, Sarah (Dave) Perkins, Kristina (Ysidro) Longoria, Holly Thingelstad, Peter Thingelstad, Tori (Josh Berry) Thingelstad, Thonetta Peterick, Thyra Peterick, Theodore Peterick, Michaela Erlendson, Britney Erlendson, Jaiden Erlendson, Austin (Ryan Raguse) Foss, Neil (Jessica Lee) Foss, Kennedy Foss; great grandchildren: Eli and Carolyn Kapp; Atticus, Amira, Ashlynn Tritschler; Elliana Kapp; Levi and Ivy Kapp; Seth Kriel and Chance Kapp; Jackson, Madelyn and Brynn Perkins; Kaitlyn (Preston Desrosier) Thingelstad, Kaleb Thingelstad, Alex, Karena, Natalie, and Kaleigh Longoria; Cali and Joey Thingelstad; Adeline Berry, great great grandchildren: Emma and Hudson Desrosier, and many loved nieces, and nephews.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Thonetta Stamness; mother and father in laws, Noel and Esther Thingelstad; sister, Audrey Knain; sister-in-laws, Charlene Stamness and Margorie Aaland, brother-in-laws, Allen Knain, Marvin Hoeroff and Otto Aaland, cousin-in-law, Arnold Paulson, and two great nieces.