Ruth Mildred Moller Kingsbury Cooper Obituary (1922

Ruth Mildred Moller Kingsbury Cooper, 87, passed away peacefully in her sleep August 23, 2009 in Palm Springs, California. She was born at home by a midwife on June 16, 1922 to Anna and Anton Moller in Bemidji, Minnesota where she lived a wonderfully happy childhood on the Moller farm with her two brothers and two sisters. Her mother, Anna Moller was born to Gersven and Dorte Roen who were from Norway and her father, Anton Moller was born to Frederick and Elizabeth Moller who were from Sweden. Ruth always loved school and loved to read and write and learn. By the age of 4 she was reading the little books that her mother had, especially a little Bible story book, songbooks and poetry books. At about the age of 4 she wrote her first poem and the teacher that was staying at their house sent it in to the Duluth Herald Newspaper where it was published. She attended the Aure elementary school that was a one room schoolhouse with 8 grades and approximately 30 children and one teacher, a teacher that Ruth was very fond of. The school was located a quarter mile from her home down a dirt road and the teacher boarded with the Moller family. Ruth graduated from Bemidji high school where she boarded with a family in town, as did her siblings, as it was quite a long distance from the farm, 30 miles by horse and buggy. She loved high school and did very well, belonging to the National Honor Society and upon graduation ranked 20th place in the class of 200 students. She married Eugene Kingsbury in 1940 in Bemidji, Minnesota. They lived and worked on the Kingsbury farm near Bemidji then moved to Bremerton, Washington in 1952 with their children. She worked at PSNS (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard) and retired after 20 years. Eugene, a loving father and grandfather, passed away in 1982. Ruth met Edward Cooper in Anaconda, Montana and they were united in marriage in 1985. They enjoyed 8 happy years until Ed passed away in 1993. Ruth moved to California in 1998 to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Eleanor & Charley Miller where she lived a full and happy life during her final years, enjoying family gatherings and traveling. She loved going to her Mensa meetings and having lots of fun and laughter belonging to the Red Hat Society. She is survived by her children Eleanor (Charley) Miller of Palm Springs, CA, Richard (Susan) Kingsbury of Bremerton, WA, Charles Kingsbury of Eastern Washington, Anne (Henry) Hess of Edwardsburg, MI, 10 grandchildren - David, Anne (Dean), Brock (Laura), Deana (Dave), Mary (Gary), Daniel, Sarah, Theresa (Tracy), Carrie, Derrick, 9 great-grandchildren - Spencer, Isaiah, Kirk, Kevin, Kelly, Justin, Brandon, Jacob, Katie, 1 great-great-grandchild - Riley Rene', sister Avis Anderson of Anaconda, MT and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, brothers Floyd and Arnold Moller and sister Eleanor Strand Dunn. Her family was very proud of her American Mensa membership, her published book of poetry "LOVE", many years of membership in Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Bremerton and her AA degree from Olympic Jr. College. We will greatly miss this precious, sweet, gentle loving soul who was beloved by all who knew her. What she loved most were her family and friends, her little dog Corky and she also enjoyed reading, church work, writing poetry, working on the Mensa scholarship committee, music, flowers, gardening, old western movies, crocheting afghans, cross stitch, crafts and going for walks. Memorial Services will be held September 19, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Lewis Funeral Chapel, 5303 Kitsap Way, Bremerton, WA with Pastor Paul Meeker of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church officiating. Inurnment will be at Forest Lawn Cemetary in Bremerton.