Obituary: Ruth Mack

Ruth Mack

Ruth M. Mack, 80, Fessenden, N.D., passed away Monday, May 22, 2023, at St. Aloisius Medical Center, Harvey, N.D.

Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 30 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Fessenden, with Frs. Jeff Eppler and Steven Wirth officiating. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Fessenden.

Visitation was from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Monday, May 29 at Nelson Funeral Home, Fessenden. A rosary and vigil service were at 7:00 p.m. at the church.

Ruth was born in Harvey on March 29, 1943, to Lloyd and Esther Fossen. She lived on a farm with her five siblings near Heimdal, N.D., while attending school through the eighth grade. She attended high school in Fessenden, graduating in 1961.

On December 26, 1964, she married Daniel Mack at St. Augustine Parish in Fessenden. For the next few years, they lived in Valley City where Ruth worked as a bank teller.

The couple moved to Linton, N.D., where they welcomed the birth of their son. They stayed until 1970 before moving to Grand Forks for two years, followed by Havre Montana and Columbus Nebraska. All along the way, she continued working at banks or law firms.

In 1977, the family moved back to Fessenden, where Ruth and Dan purchased the Wells County Abstract Company. For the next 30 years, she and Dan worked together until they both retired and sold the company in July 2007.

During the years in Fessenden, in addition to taking care of her family, Ruth participated in many community activities that included a Homemakers group, Birthday Club, Red Hats, Fessenden Country Club and the women's group at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Every summer during the County Fair, you could find Ruth at the Catholic Church Food Stand as the chairperson for multiple shifts and doing what was necessary to help prepare great meals and serve the community.

She loved flowers and for many years she kept numerous flower beds in the yard with all varieties of flowers. She loved digging in the dirt and adding new plants each spring. Her favorite times in the flower bed were the times she picked flowers with her granddaughter Courtney.

After retiring from the Abstract office, Ruth found a passion working at the Fessenden Thrift Shop. She loved being active, helping people, contributing to the community, but she especially enjoyed her co-workers and the time she spent with each of them. Ruth shared many stories from the Thrift Shop, about the work and the satisfaction from the opportunities to help people.

Ruth is survived by her loving husband of 59 years Dan; her son, Kirk (Janet) of Galveston Texas; one granddaughter, Courtney of Galveston Texas; two sisters, Janice (Melvin) Erfle of Mandan and Sylvia Reimche of Minot; two brothers, Lyle (Bonnie) Fossen of Minot and Richard (Mary) Fossen of Billings, Mont.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Gary.

Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Home, Fessenden, North Dakota.