Ruby V. Stegman

Ruby V. Stegman, 95, of Cavalier, ND died Wednesday, August 11, 2010, at Wedgewood Manor, Cavalier. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 16, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Lutheran Church, Cavalier ND. Visitation at the church for one hour before the time of services. Burial in the Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Neche, ND. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Pembina County Memorial Hospital, Cavalier or the Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Neche.
Ruby Viola Olson was born September 16, 1914, to Elias and Thorborg Olson in Eagle Grove, Iowa. She was raised on farms in Iowa and attended country schools. Ruby worked in Chicago as a cook, housekeeper, and governess. After earning her nursing cap at Lutheran Deaconess, she worked for Dr. Wolf at his Ear, Eye, Nose, and Throat Clinic, and trained at Cook County Hospital.
While on a visit to North Dakota, she met her husband to be Dan Stegman. They were married on September 16, 1936 in Badger, Iowa at the same Lutheran Church she was confirmed in. After their marriage they spent most of their life farming in the Bathgate area, where they raised their family. They returned to Chicago to support the WWII effort. She also worked at the Bathgate School as a cook and nursed at the Cavalier hospital over 20 years. She tended a large garden, helped in the fields, and played the organ for 42 years at the Emanuel Lutheran Church. Ruby purchased the Axdal Hotel in Cavalier and ran the Cavalier Motor Lodge for five years until selling and retiring in 1979. Dan Stegman died on August 13, 2001.
A strong advocate of education, and a great storyteller, Ruby took correspondence classes for writing and loved writing poems, stories, and kept a journal. She wrote memories of her childhood and her early years in a letter to her grandchildren, entitled "Cornhusks and Kernels." The book was never published, but was lovingly typed and produced by her children and shared with her grandchildren.
Ruby resided at Borg Home in Mountain, ND, for several years where she played the piano and the accordion, and continued to write additional chapters to her book before transferring to Wedgewood Manor in Cavalier. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed crossword puzzles. Also, she crocheted, embroidered, and knit baby caps for newborns.
Ruby will be lovingly remembered as a mother who read to her children, taught us to pray, and brought laughter and music into our lives.
Survivors include her children, Gerald Stegman, Warroad, MN; Carole (John) Graff, Owatonna, MN; Barb (Claude) Mosher, Detroit Lakes, MN; Darlene Lofthus, McVille, ND; Norma (Harlan) Wellen, Roosevelt, MN; Peg (Dave) Skov, Fargo, ND; Ialean Lepire (Dean Johnson) Fargo, ND; Maureen (Dale) Storey, Detroit Lakes, MN; 23 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; brother, Ole Olson and sister, Carrie Friesth.
Also preceding her in death were her parents; brothers, Oscar and Lawrence Olson; sisters, Alvilda Olson, Olga Eldal, and Edna Peterson; three children and three sons-in-law, Noel Lofthus, Gary Ensign, and Camille Lepire.
Clergy: Rev. Beth Peterson
Honorary Pallbearers: All of Ruby's Grandchildren.
Music: Lynette (Lepire) Burgan amd McKinley Solberg, Vocalists; Bernadine Kopf, Organist; and Steve Graff, Trumpet Soloist.