Ruth C. Kraft

Ruth Christine (Ritter) Kraft, 69, Jamestown, ND died Monday, May 25, 2009, in her home, surrounded by her loving family with the support of Jamestown Hospice.

A prayer service will be held at Lisko Funeral Chapel, Jamestown, at 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 17th. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 18th at 10am in St. James Basilica. There will be private interment in Calvary Cemetery.

Ruth was born on October 14, 1939 in Arma, Kansas to James and Elsie Mae Ritter. She spent most of her early years in Kansas. She graduated from Pierre High School in Pierre, SD in 1957. She attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD receiving a two year diploma in Education in 1959. She returned to Northern and received her B.S. in Education in 1970 and her Masters in Education in 1978.

She married Dennis Kraft on August 8, 1959 at Sacred Heart Church in Aberdeen, SD. They both taught school in Lemmon, SD, Ipswich, SD and Hosmer, SD before settling in Aberdeen where they lived until 1982. They then moved to Missoula, MT and River Falls, WI. Upon retirement in 1997 they made their home in Jamestown.

Ruth was a devoted wife and mother of four children and a grandmother extraordinaire to six grandchildren. She was a member of American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters and the Jamestown Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed books, art, crossword puzzles, traveling the world with her husband, spending time with her children and grandchildren and a good cup of coffee.

Survivors include her husband Dennis Kraft, Jamestown, ND; children Kelly, Lusaka, Zambia; Alan, Fargo, ND; Barbara (Darron) Orr, Ypsilanti, ND; Jennifer (Troy) Fornstrom, Denver, CO; grandchildren McKayla, Meghan, Gage and Madelyn Orr, Ypsilanti, ND; Reganne and Reid Fornstrom, Denver, CO. Brothers Norman Ritter, Wichita, KS; Charles (Glenda) Ritter, Springfield, MO and sisters Betty Skidmore, Manhattan, KS; Bonnie (Keith) Burns, Lake Havasu City, AZ; Pam (John) Osgood, Lee's Summit, MO; Rhonda (Tom) Moeser, Midland, MI. Brother-in-law Alan (Denise) Kraft, Brainerd, MN and sisters-in-law Marlyce (Ed) Stader, Rapid City, SD; Jackie Vezzoli, Hinckley, MN; Mayren (Jack) DeCrans, Fridley, MN. Numerous nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, brothers-in-law Kenny Kraft, Jake Vezzoli and Chuck Skidmore, sister-in-law Juanita Ritter, two nephews, and one great niece.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a donation to The Dennis & Ruth Kraft Education Endowment at Northern State University, 620 15th Avenue SE, Aberdeen, SD 57401 or the AAUW Endowment Memorial for Ruth Kraft at Jamestown College, 610 7th Ave NE, Jamestown, ND 58401.