Obituary - Ruth M. Ervin

Ruth M. Ervin, 78, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Monday, November 26, 2018, at her residence.

Cremation has taken place, and a celebration of Ruth's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2, 2018, at the Havre Eagles Club. Her family has suggested memorial donations be made in Ruth's name to the American Cancer Society, 3550 Mullan Road Ste 103, Missoula, MT 59808.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Ruth's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Ruth was born on January 3, 1940, in Crystal Lake, IL, to Benct and Ulla (Kalhauge) Tronet. She was raised in Crystal Lake and graduated from high school there in 1958. Thanks to her aunt who assisted her in obtaining a scholarship, Ruth attended St. Augustine Nursing School in Chicago, graduating with her RN certificate in 1961. While in nursing school, she met Rick Ervin, a neighbor, and the couple married on June 9, 1962. In 1963, Rick was transferred to Milwaukee, WI. While living there, Ruth and Rick visited Havre to see his family, and Ruth fell in love with the area. The end of 1964, they relocated to Havre, where they spent the majority of the remaining 54 years, with short stints in Great Falls and Billings while Rick worked for the state of Montana. Over the years, Ruth worked for Havre Deaconess Hospital, Columbus Hospital in Great Falls, and St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, where she was a member of the first open heart surgery team. After they returned to Havre, Ruth took over as supervisor of the ER in the Havre hospital. In 2001, she retired as floor manager over the East and West Wing of Northern Montana Care Center.

Ruth loved reading, flower and vegetable gardening, and vacationing at Apgar and Lake McDonald in Glacier. She enjoyed doing the bookkeeping for her husband Rick's photography studio. Time spent with her grandchildren was treasured, and she lived for the holiday gatherings with her family. For the past several years, she was able to spend time with her daughter each day, chatting in the afternoon.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Benct and Ulla Tronet, brother Lorens Tronet, and mother-in-law Cora Solheim.

She is survived by her husband of over 50 years, Rick Ervin of Havre; children Stacey (Randy) Keller of Havre and Jeremy "J.C." Ervin of Seattle, WA; grandchildren, Kyle, Kameron and Kody Pribyl, Lex (Megan Rainey) Keller, and Keavan and Kortlyn Keller, all of Havre; and lifelong friend, Judy Hollister of Crystal Lake, IL.