Ruth Joyce Haugen, age 100, of Fort Collins, Colorado, formerly of Westhope, ND passed away on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at the home of her daughter, Annette Metcalf.

A private family service in Westhope will be held at a later date and a celebration of life will be held in Fort Collins, date to be determined.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Westhope.

Ruth was born March 30, 1920 to Harry and Helen (Larson) Maltby in Coteau, ND on a snowy day with the doctor arriving by horse and sleigh. She was the second born of 5 siblings. She was called Baby for a couple of months before her parents decided on naming her Ruth Joyce. She attended grade school and graduated from Coteau High School in 1938 and went on to college in Minot and Minneapolis to become a teacher. She taught grades 5th through 8th in a one room school house outside of Coteau. Ruth moved to Westhope in 1947 and worked at Hovland's Rexall Drug Store in Westhope where she met Henry Haugen. They were married on October 2, 1951, and started their family on the Haugen farmstead with the arrivals of Annette and Janice. They lived on the family farm until 1994 when they moved into the Senior apartments in Westhope. Henry passed away September 21, 1995.

Ruth was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Westhope and her faith was very important to her. She and her sisters sang at Sunday Church Services and weddings in Coteau. Ruth taught kindergarten and 1st grade Sunday school classes for 40 years. She was a Girl Scout troop leader and Ombudsman. Ruth was a member of the Westhope Garden Club, Ruth Circle Bible Study, Ladies Aid, Church Council, Lutheran Cheer Ladies and Westhope Seniors. She delivered Meals on Wheels to local residents in Westhope. Ruth enjoyed nature especially bird watching. She was an avid reader and also loved baking, crafts, sewing and gardening. Roses were one of her favorite flowers.

She is survived by daughters Annette Metcalf of Fort Collins, CO, and Janice (Steve) Sweeney of Minot, ND, Sister Ardyce Melby of Crosby, ND, and Sister-in-law Ann Maltby of Billings, MT. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.

She was preceded in death by her husband Henry, Parents Harry and Helen Maltby, Sister Harriet Hovland, Brothers Delbert (Bud) Maltby, Denton Maltby, maternal and paternal grandparents, Sisters-in-law, Lue Maltby, Faye Haugen, Myrtle Friederich. Brothers-in-law, Dwaine Melby, Harold Hovland, Norman Haugen, Ole Haugen, Herman Haugen, and Julius Friederich, Nieces, Sallie Munn and Jennifer Maltby, Nephew, Lynn Haugen.

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net