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AMUNDSEN, Ruby
1926 - 2021
Live Stream of the Service, Thursday, 3, 2021 at 1:00 P.M: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b29jFynDt3Y
Ruby Amundsen passed away on May 26 at her home in Lacombe. She was proud to have achieved the age of 95 years. Ruby was born in Ontario and came to Claresholm when her husband Owen decided to return to the farm in 1952. She lived a long life as a reluctant farm wife, an involved community member and especially a mom. She was involved in her Church, Girl Guiding, her Sewing Club and enjoyed bowling, curling and the community choir but her family was the centre of her life. She was mother to Doug, Barb and Ellen.
The family would like to invite you to attend a Live Stream Service presented by the Rising Spirit Ministries, on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. the link will is provided above.
She was predeceased by Owen and is survived by her children and their families.
Full Obituary
Ruby Constance ( Downes ) Amundsen
January 20, 1926 - May 26, 2021
Ruby Constance Downes was born January 20, 1926 in Peterborough, Ontario to Walter and Ruby (Brown) Downes . She was the third of four children. They lived on Sherbrooke Street in Peterborough. As a child she was responsible for taking her father’s lunch to the CN rail yard every day. She developed asthma as a child, which was a concern her whole life. She used to tell stories about her parents being overprotective and using extreme treatments for the asthma such as mustard plasters so hot they burned her chest and vaporizers in sealed rooms that were suffocating. On her sixteenth birthday she came home from school and her father announced that women did not require an education, and that she would start a job the next day. Ruby always expressed regret about being unable to continue her studies, but she knew that her parents believed that they were acting in her best interest. Ruby worked at General Electric after that doing soldering. After the war, she met an engineer at General Electric named Owen Jennings Amundsen. The first time he asked her for a date, she told him that she had to stay home and wash her hair. Then she went to a movie with another guy and discovered Owen sitting in the theatre behind her. It was the start of a lifelong love. Owen and Ruby were married June 4, 1949 in Peterborough, Ontario. They honeymooned at Niagara Falls. They lived in an upstairs suite which had no refridgerator in a house in Peterborough. Their first child Douglas was born in Peterborough in 1951.
Although Ruby was reluctant to adopt the role of farm wife, she accompanied Owen to the Amundsen family farm (25-12-27 W4), established 1902, in Claresholm, Alberta in 1952. Barbara was born in 1953 and Ellen in 1959.
Ruby became very involved in the Claresholm community. Owen and Ruby were avid dancers and attended all the community dances. In the sixties there were a group of families who gathered at the Lane ranch from time to time for square dancing. Ruby did a lot of visiting with the elderly. Coffee with friends was a big part of her life all the way through. Ruby belonged to a coffee circle and a sewing club. Over the years she became expert at knitting, paper toll, and cross stitch. She enjoyed knitting sweaters for family members, and tried her hand at various craft projects. Ruby was involved in Guiding and led both Brownies and Guides. Ruby was very involved in St John’s Anglican Church in Claresholm. She was active in the church women’s group and held various board positions. She sang soprano in the church choir and also in the Claresholm Community Choir. Ruby enjoyed bowling and won some trophies. There were also curling trophies. Ruby curled in the women’s league and there was always a family rink in the mixed curling league.
In about 1972, Ruby went back to school and took typing at the Willow Creek Composite High School in Claresholm. When she completed the course, the school approached her and offered her the job of secretary at the school. She held this job for a number of years, until about 1978.
On retirement in 1991, the family farm was sold and Owen and Ruby moved to a house at 421-51st Ave E in Claresholm with a view of the farm. Owen passed away in 2004. Ruby always said that she was mad at him for leaving first. Ruby moved to the Cottonwood Village senior residence in Claresholm in 2010. She moved to Sunrise Village in Ponoka, Alberta in 2014. Then she moved to Royal Oak Village in Lacombe Alberta in 2016.
Family was always the first priority in Ruby’s life. She enjoyed hosting family celebrations and having family come to stay for awhile. It was never too crowded!
Ruby was predeceased by her parents Walter and Ruby (Brown) Downes, brother Stanley (Mary Warriner ) Downes, sister Vera (Arnold “Mel”) Holden, and husband Owen Amundsen.
Ruby is survived by her brother Walter (Katherine Thorne) Downes and by her children Doug (Joan Dew) Amundsen, Barbara (Willard) Boese, and Ellen Amundsen-Case (Lauren Case). By seven grandchildren Brian Boese, Terry Boese (Becky Kluz), Greg Amundsen (Loralee Johnson), Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer (Justin Meyer), David Case (Krista Hore), Daryl Case (Paulette Huberdeau), and Daniel Case (Jayln Gapka). And by 12 great grandchildren Otto and Ivan Amundsen; Ayla and Jack Meyer; Elliot Boese; Morgan, Liam and Tanner Case; Mason, Amelia, and Peyton Case; and Jacob Case.
Ruby passed away May 26 in Lacombe Alberta at the age of 95 years
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