Ruth Marie Nordstrom

Ruth Marie Stringam Nordstrom passed away on New Year’s Eve after a long battle with heart disease and diabetes; both of which she managed heroically. She was surrounded by her loving family!

Ruth was born in Cardston, Alberta, on May 12, 1938. She often recalled her early experiences there and in her first home of nearby Glenwood, where she observed her neighbors known as “The Blood Indian Reservation” and her fascination with their way of life. She was especially intrigued with their transportation using the travois as well as their dress and beautiful styles and colors. Ruth also learned in the 1940s to help her mother prepare meals for the many ranch hands who worked for her father on his 22,000-acre cattle ranch near Foremost, Alberta. Eventually though, her mother would want her to be closer to a school and have opportunities to learn dance.

Ruth then moved back to Cardston to live with her grandmother Anderson for a time. By then, she had two sisters, and their mother wanted them nearer to public schools. Ruth recalled during a visit to these places last summer, that she was asked if she’d like to stay in Cardston or go to Lethbridge and stay with her Aunt Ruby. Ruth had noticed a box of dolls at Aunt Ruby’s, so she chose to go there. Her love of dolls is evident to any who’ve visited her in her home! While living at Aunt Ruby’s, she had the opportunity to get to know more cousins, including Elaine Jack (former Relief Society President of The General Board), of whom she often spoke fondly. Elaine frequently babysat Ruth.

Eventually, Ruth’s parents built their own home in Lethbridge and the family would be re-united with her father coming home on weekends.

As early as ten years of age, Ruth expressed her love and passion for art. Later in life she wrote: “I try to put on paper the views of the world that surround me.” At this gentle age of 10 years, Ruth began her formal art training. Her studies would carry her through ‘til college, where she continued at BYU and BYU-I as well as working with prominent instructors such as the late Sergei Bongart and, more recently, Ovanes Berberian, whom Ruth describes “greatly inspired me and influenced the way I perceive and create art.”

Ruth grew up in the lights and shadows of the Canadian Rockies where she spent years attempting to capture the grandeur of those mountains onto canvas. This past summer as she revisited those beautiful mountain peaks, Ruth expressed continued inspiration by their majesty.

She served as the president of the Idaho Falls Art Guild for a time and while teaching art, she would convey to her students, “My challenge is to put on canvas the beauty of the world, the people of the world, and the inspiration of their lives.” Ruth was able to understand the relationships of color and manipulate them into a beautiful symphony. She often claimed, “Art will stimulate and inspire all of us to improve ourselves, our families, our homes, and ultimately our world!”

While attending BYU Provo, Ruth met her eternal companion. She was sealed to Gary Lee Nordstrom in the Cardston, Alberta Temple on July 24, 1957. She had a big, beautiful wedding, and rumor has it there were upwards of 350 guests, although she complained she didn’t know most of them.

After her new husband completed his bachelor’s degree from BYU, the couple and their two children made a home in Carey, Idaho. There, they welcomed two more children before relocating to Gooding, Idaho, where they welcomed their fifth child. In 1971, Ruth and Gary moved again to Rigby, Idaho, where they finished raising their family. They remained in that home for the remainder of their lives.

Ruth loved nature and spending time with family. She also possessed a natural ability to make fast, lifelong friends.

Art wasn’t all she taught. Ruth loved the gospel and studied the scriptures. She was quick with answers to gospel questions often posed by others seeking eternal truths. Her understanding was vast and complete. Ruth was renowned for her Relief Society Cultural Refinement lessons. And she was able to manage the Boy Scouts Troops after they’d run off the previous two leaders.

Ruth had five kids and no favorites. If chided about having favorites she’d simply state “my favorite child is the one who needs me most at the time.”

Ruth applied her talent and people skills to manage the medical records department as a coder. She spent many years in service at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center before becoming a travel coder for two years prior to retiring. She always returned home with tales of adventure and luxurious soaps from high-end hotels. Her favorite stay was at Mission Inn in Riverside, California, where Ronald and Nancy Reagan were married. She was able to revisit post-retirement with her daughter and granddaughter.

Ruth’s last years were spent painting and selling in art shows and galleries. In spite of her health challenges, she persevered, stayed busy, and excelled. Ruth loved life, embraced it, and participated fully in it! If it could be made, she made it. If it could be sewn, she sewed it. If it could be knit, she knitted it with 12 knitting needles in a circle of yarns of different colors on each! And, if it could be sculpted, she sculpted it. Her talents were never-ending, but her first love was the gospel: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved the temple, and her most recent visit there was significant.

Her greatest desire was for her children to love one another as Jesus loves us. Ruth knew her time was short due to her dedication to managing her health to the best of her abilities. She trusted her physicians and had faith in the priesthood blessings she’d received! She lived how she believed and taught others to also pray and TRUST! Her love and faith will be her legacy to her family and to the world for all time.

Ruth is survived by her children; Cathy Radford of Rigby, Idaho, Colette (Blake) Smith of Rigby, Idaho, Bart (Sonja) Nordstrom of Provo, Utah, and Layne (formerly Penni) Nordstrom of Las Vegas, Nevada. Sisters; Georgina Taylor of Salt Lake City, Utah, Sharon (Richard) Porter of Salt Lake City, Utah and Gail (Darris) Howe of Salt Lake City, Utah. Seventeen grandchildren and thirty-one great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Alonzo and Mary Stringam. Her husband, Gary Lee Nordstrom. A son, Jeffery Nordstrom and a sister, Lorna Scott.

A funeral will be held for Ruth on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 1:00 pm in the Rigby 26th Ward Chapel (401 West 1st South, Rigby, Idaho). The family will meet with friends prior to services from 11:30 am to 12:45 pm on Thursday at the church. The interment will be on Friday, January 10, 2025 in the Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, Utah.