Ruth Lillian Christopher was born August 10, 1912 on a farm
outside
Medina, North Dakota. Her parents were Carl and Inga (Olsen) Christopher. She was the
fourth child, but first girl of eleven children. With so many children, Ruth was expected
to take care of the younger ones. She often said that they may not have had much on the
farm, but they were happy. Ruth was known for her sweet temperament, but Ken tells a
story of one time when she was so angry that she hit him on the head with a hoe. But her
son Dennis says: “Uncle Ken was a joker, as all of the Christopher boys were, so it shouldn’t
be a surprise that Ken would tell the story that my sweet, quiet mother hit him with a hoe
when they were growing up on the farm.”
Medina, North Dakota. Her parents were Carl and Inga (Olsen) Christopher. She was the
fourth child, but first girl of eleven children. With so many children, Ruth was expected
to take care of the younger ones. She often said that they may not have had much on the
farm, but they were happy. Ruth was known for her sweet temperament, but Ken tells a
story of one time when she was so angry that she hit him on the head with a hoe. But her
son Dennis says: “Uncle Ken was a joker, as all of the Christopher boys were, so it shouldn’t
be a surprise that Ken would tell the story that my sweet, quiet mother hit him with a hoe
when they were growing up on the farm.”
Ruth attended high school in Medina and then went to a Seamstress
School with her friend Edna Gieseke. Both were employed in
Jamestown, N. D. Edna later married Ruth's brother Glenn. Ruth
worked in a boarding house where she met A.
G. (Anton Gerhardt)
Skofstad at the dining table. A. G. worked as a mechanic, then
as shop
foreman for Stutsman County Implement. They were married June 4, 1933.
Ruth and A. G. had three children,
Richard Allen ( October 31, 1934-Dec. 7, 1934)
Dennis Earl (March31, 1941) and
James Russell (March 26, 1946).
Richard Allen ( October 31, 1934-Dec. 7, 1934)
Dennis Earl (March31, 1941) and
James Russell (March 26, 1946).
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| with sister Doris |
baby quilts. There was always a small quilt ready to be sent to the newest baby.
She also made a really remarkable cowboy suit from a tablecloth for her son Jim.
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| with Grandpa Carl |
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| the boys with dad and grandpa Carl |
They lived in Jamestown until the summer of 1955
when they moved
to Polson, Montana and bought the Lakeview Court, (Resort Motel)
A. G.also went to work at the U.S. Plywood mill in Polson. Ruth continued
to clean the cabins and make the beds. Dennis was in charge of the rental
boats and Jim emptied the trash cans and collected the bottles, which he
turned over to Uncle Albert Paul for the deposits.
to Polson, Montana and bought the Lakeview Court, (Resort Motel)
A. G.also went to work at the U.S. Plywood mill in Polson. Ruth continued
to clean the cabins and make the beds. Dennis was in charge of the rental
boats and Jim emptied the trash cans and collected the bottles, which he
turned over to Uncle Albert Paul for the deposits.
Many times Ken and Ruby would bring Gloria and Margie and their boat
to Polson for a picnic and boat ride on the lake. Albert and Doris with Esther,
Barbara and Sharon would also join in. After a few years at the Lakeview Court,
they sold it and moved to a house on Hillcrest in Polson. Ruth worked at the
Wardrobe Drycleaners as a seamstress for several years.
In 1965, the two sons
were no longer at home and A. G. had retired.
They moved to Greenacres, Washington, near Spokane, and bought a large
lot with a tiny old house on it. They fixed up the old house and lived in that
while A. G. built a new home. Both enjoyed having a large garden and at Greenacres.
They now had the space for it. Ruth grew her mother's favorite flowers, Sweet William,
as a tribute to her.
They moved to Greenacres, Washington, near Spokane, and bought a large
lot with a tiny old house on it. They fixed up the old house and lived in that
while A. G. built a new home. Both enjoyed having a large garden and at Greenacres.
They now had the space for it. Ruth grew her mother's favorite flowers, Sweet William,
as a tribute to her.
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| With brother Ken |
Dennis met Charlotte Webb at the Polson
High School where they both attended.
They both attended University of Montana at Missoula
and were married in Wallace,
Idaho. Their son David Eric was born to on July 25, 1969, at Fort Belvoir, Va.,
just outside of Washington, D.C. where Dennis was on active duty in the US ARMY
RESERVES. Both Charlotte and Dennis worked at the Pentagon for many years and
have now retired. David was a joy and a delight for Ruth and the rest of the family as he
grew up.
Idaho. Their son David Eric was born to on July 25, 1969, at Fort Belvoir, Va.,
just outside of Washington, D.C. where Dennis was on active duty in the US ARMY
RESERVES. Both Charlotte and Dennis worked at the Pentagon for many years and
have now retired. David was a joy and a delight for Ruth and the rest of the family as he
grew up.
One story from son Dennis shows Ruth’s sweet nature: “Mom was, of course, delighted with her only grandson Dave and enjoyed the many times that Charlotte, Dennis, and Dave flew from the east coast and Jim drove from Seattle to spend some time with mom and dad in Greenacres.
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We usually used the visit to celebrate all the birthdaysand special holidays with lots of often silly presents. One memorable gift event we have on video shows mom opening a small jewelry box which held a small, modest broach. Unfortunately she was holding the box upside down so that the opened box only showed a straight pin which held the broach to the other side of a cotton bed. Sweet mom looked up and smiled at everyone and said, “Isn’t that nice!” We all fell on the floor laughing because she hadn’t found the broach but liked the straight pin just fine.”
When David grew up he met his wife Andrea Duncan (December 7. 1970)
while both were working in DC at the Department of Education. They married
in Seattle August 14, 1999, where they both worked for Microsoft for some time.
Dave now works for TMobile. Andrea left Microsoft to concentrate on her children,
and is finishing up her teaching credential, substituting at her kid’s school,
and also work with Girls on the Run at the same school. Their son Evan, was born
August 24, 2005 in Seattle, daughter Zoe was born April 3, 2007.
Dennis, now retired, and Charolett live in Bothell, WA.
while both were working in DC at the Department of Education. They married
in Seattle August 14, 1999, where they both worked for Microsoft for some time.
Dave now works for TMobile. Andrea left Microsoft to concentrate on her children,
and is finishing up her teaching credential, substituting at her kid’s school,
and also work with Girls on the Run at the same school. Their son Evan, was born
August 24, 2005 in Seattle, daughter Zoe was born April 3, 2007.
Dennis, now retired, and Charolett live in Bothell, WA.
In the meantime, Ruth's son Jim,
also attended Polson High School and was a trumpet
player in the Montana Centennial Band when it played at the Rose Bowl and
toured Washington D.C. in 1964.
player in the Montana Centennial Band when it played at the Rose Bowl and
toured Washington D.C. in 1964.
In 1968 he graduated
from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art, enlisted
in the US Army in November of 1968 and served a one year tour in Vietnam with
the 1st Infantry Division. In 1970, he attended the University of Washington in
Seattle while working as a display designer for several retail businesses. Jim was Production Manager for Lawrence & Scott, a lighting
manufacturer and Asian art and accessories importer until he retired in 2008. He now lives in Edmonds,
WA and spends time writing memoirs, genealogy articles and building guitars.
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A.G. passed away on October 14, 1990 after 57 years of marriage to Ruth. Son Jim was at his side. Just over seven months later on May 22, 1991, Ruth passed away with son Dennis holding her hand.
For the Christopher cousins who missed the opportunity of
knowing Aunt Ruth,
Ken tells us she was most like our cousin Esther.
Ken tells us she was most like our cousin Esther.
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| Together Forever |
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