Ruth Irene Maltais
Ruth Irene Maltais, 89, of Bemidji, died Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at Havenwood Care Center in Bemidji.
Ruth Irene Maltais, 89, of Bemidji, died Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at Havenwood Care Center in Bemidji.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 13, at the Bethany Free Lutheran Church in Bemidji with Rev. Arlo Feiock officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Fern Township Cemetery in Becida under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.
Pallbearers will be Bruce Falk, Leo Falk, Tom and Melody Kirkpatrick and Jim Maltais Jr.
She was born April 6, 1920, to John and Alma (Nelson) Falk at the farm in Salol, Minn. Her parents emigrated from Sweden and came over on the ship Lusitania. She went to school through the eighth grade in Salol. She worked in the CCC Camp in Warren, Minn., where she got the nickname Blondie. She then went to work in Seattle, Wash., at Boeing Aircraft riveting B-17s during World War II as a Rosie the Riveter. Again, she was called Blondie. She shared and rode an Indian Motor Bike with her youngest brother, Helmar, and had many fun and good memories. She married Gerald Maltais Dec. 28, 1945, in San Francisco, Calif. They moved back to Bemidji for a couple years where their son, James, was born in 1947. Her husband rejoined the U.S. Navy, and they lived in many different places. She and her son went by ship to Guam in 1950. They made their homes in San Diego, Long Beach and San Francisco, Calif., Waukegan, Ill., and Norfork, Va. They returned to Bemidji in 1966 when her husband retired. She was a member of the Antique Car Club. She loved to cross country ski, bike ride, garden, plant trees, watch the birds, sew almost all her own clothes and read. She belonged to Aglow where she made many lifelong friends. She was a member of Bethany Free Lutheran Church. She loved music. She always had a beloved dog in the family and could tell many funny stories about them. She is survived by her son James (Eloise) Maltais; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one step-granddaughter; and two step-great-grandchildren; brother, Helmar; three sisters-in-law; many nieces and nephews; and special friends, Tom and Melody Kirkpatrick.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 1997; and brothers, Gunnar and Benny.
Messages of condolence may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.
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