RUTH ALICE FERGUSON (HAY)

Condolences & Memories (4 entries)

• To the Ferguson Family Your mother.... what can I say about her. A beautiful lady who I knew for over 50 years! Our families were very close! I have such good memories of suppers at your house on Robindale Rd. and working very hard at Star Lake! I always wanted to work with her. Your mom always had a smile on her face while making a whole pile of pies for Sunday dinner. She never complained while doing it in love even when the kitchen was so hot and all she wanted to do was go for a swim. I remember having talks with her in the camper trailer while she waited for your dad to come for the weekend! She always made time for me and we would talk about everything from her liking my hair, to Jesus, flowers and gardens to dating!! Then Wayne and I married and had 2 girls and my family became her family! She was so happy I found my love! Good memories of good suppers ( her double stuff potatoes where 👌🏻 and playing Spoons and Help Your Neighbour! Always had a pile of laughs with your dad and mom both at their place and at our farm! She loved coming out to our farm and walking around the yard. She said she felt at peace here! My family and I want to express our deepest sympathies! Wishing you feelings of comfort as she is with your dad and brother in heaven! Through our tears and sadness we are celebrating an amazing, special lady that we truly loved!! ❤️ Prayers and Love Delanie & Wayne & Jennifer Rhymer Katie & Andrew Overby - Posted by: Delanie & Wayne Rhymer (Dear friends) on: Jan 29, 2020

• I will always remember the summers spent at Lake Brereton with Aunt Ruth and Uncle Art. The endless water fights between Ruth and her brother George (my father). My cousins and I would run back and forth watching the 2 overgrown children douse each other, laughing hysterically the entire time. Even after a truce had been called the fun would continue, as one or the other would hide a pot of water for their unsuspecting sibling in a dry suit of clothes. My condolences to cousins Carol, Mark and Valerie. My mother Doree Hay is also thinking of the family at this difficult time. - Posted by: stuart hay (nephew) on: Jan 28, 2020

• MY AUNT RUTH My Aunt, Ruth Ferguson, had a big influence on my life, right from the day I was Born!!! In the week before I was born, my father, Doug Brown, went to a movie with his brother-in-law, Art Ferguson. The movie starred Olympic Champion Figure Skater, Sonya Henie. There was another figure skater in the movie - named "KARIN" - pronounced as "Car-In". My father thought that was "So Unusual" and decided that would be my name if I was a girl. But after I was born, my Aunt Ruth convinced my Dad to go with a less "distinctive" name of KAREN, as she told him I would get teased a lot and spend my days spelling my name for people!! Thanks Aunt Ruth, I always appreciated the change, and you saved me from a "fate worse than death" for a child. As it is, I think that Everyone and his Dog went to that movie!, because in every school, every job, and every group I was ever in - when they called out "Karen" there was never less than 5 of us who answered the call!! Not to mention the hundred different ways of spelling KAREN!! With so many children being born after the War, there was a school building frenzy, but the classes still filled up almost immediately, and there was no availability for Kindergarten. My Aunt took a class at "Normal School" to be a teacher, and turned her basement into a Pre-School. There was everything there for a child - chalk, and chalk-boards, books, puzzles, lots of paper to draw on, and lots of toys. Today it would be categorized as a Day-Care! We all used to love to go to visit Ruth. When I was 10 years old, I had a ruptured appendix - which obviously I survived. The next summer, my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Art took me to Bible camp - as they were Counsellors. And that's where I accepted the Lord as my personal Saviour, so Thanks Again, Aunt Ruth. My Aunt Ruth was very intrepid and confident. She was the first to take driving lessons, got a car, and "never looked back" as they say. She was so independent and loved to be able to do her own shopping, etc. without having to get someone else to drive her. And in fact she did a lot of driving other people who needed help. She and her husband, were very active in their church, and with their family. Her "one and only" brother, George, was the biggest tease. He would constantly tease her - even as adults - and have her "in stitches!" Though she sometimes "got her own" back - she never got mad, she just laughed it off. She was a good cook and was known for her "Outstanding" Nanaimo bars. That was the biggest threat she could give to her brother -he wouldn’t get any Nanaimo Bars if he 'got out of hand,' and that would really make him 'toe the line'! The whole family was in Winnipeg, and it was wonderful to be able to get on my bike and go visit my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and my many cousins. My Uncle George started the "mini-exodus" moving to Ontario to teach at the University (he was a Bio-chemist), my Aunt Gladys, moved to Ottawa with her husband Stewart, for his job; then my father moved us to Calgary in 1962. It wasn’t often that we got together again -- usually, like most people - for weddings, new babies, and funerals. I am glad that most of my family "suffers" from Longevity - gives me more opportunities to see them all. Farewell Aunt Ruth, I will miss you forever - but give a hug from me to everyone there with you: Art, Gladys, Stewart, George, Doree, Doug, Dorothy, David, and your parents. Love you all. - Posted by: Karen McKay (Niece) on: Jan 28, 2020

• Dear Aunt Ruth had a profound effect on my childhood, and that of my brother and sisters. We were always glad to see her and spend time with her. Her infectious humour, rollicking laughter, and mischievous spirit of fun made her a great companion. There were so many splashing contests at Brereton Lake with Ruth acting like a bigger kid than the rest of us. Then there would be the hysterical shrieks whenever one of us got a "bloodsucker" (leech) stuck to us. Ruth was always ready with the salt shaker to spread salt on the hideous thing and make it shrivel up. Then there were kerosene-lamp-lit evenings with board games of Crokinole and Monopoly in the cottage, and wonderful Bible stories read to us before we went to sleep. Ruth was the only person who ever attempted to get us to memorize the books of the Bible. Now that I'm a fan of crossword puzzles, I thank her heartily for this whenever I come across a clue such as, "Book after Nehemiah." It keeps her always in my mind! So funny - the little triggers that remind us of someone! I was particularly close to Ruth during the life of her first son, David. I would often spend the night at Ruth and Art's home, babysitting David in the evening while Ruth and Art went to Bible Study Class. Then Art would drive me home the next day. I loved playing with David, who was such a lively, intelligent, and good-natured little boy. I was only 10 and 11 myself at the time, so kid-stuff was still a lot of fun for me. How well I remember Aunt Ruth's excellent meals and desserts, her well-kept home which was beautifully furnished (to my little-kid eyes), the kindergarten she ran in her basement for neighbourhood children, her back yard garden complete with raspberry bushes (something I had never seen before), her joy in having a family after such a long wait for children, and her constant high energy. She was not one for repose! I remember some significant advice that Ruth gave me after my son was born. She said, "Be sure you don't worry too much about having a clean house and keeping everything perfect. It's much more important to spend time with your children and play with them." Ruth will be so sorely missed because her physical presence emanated so much charm and made such a loving and joyful impression. I am amazed by what she was still accomplishing in her early nineties - living in her three-bedroom condo, driving her own car, doing her own gardening and grocery shopping, taking frequent trips to Toronto and even to Florida. It exhausts me just to contemplate it, and I've just turned 70! As far as I'm concerned, that level of physical energy can only be fueled by a phenomenal zest for life, a wellspring of inner drive and enthusiasm, and a great belief in God, His love for us, and the power He shares with us unconditionally and eternally. Ruth had that belief and she generously shared His power and love with everyone she knew. I join all her children, remaining family members, and friends in celebrating the life of a remarkable woman whom I was lucky enough to have as an Aunt. God Bless You, Ruth !!!! - Posted by: Lizza Larkin (Niece) on: Jan 28, 2020