Ruth Weber

She was a southern belle transplanted to the cold of central Minnesota. But she warmed the world around her with a ready smile, a warm hug and a cheerful song. Ruth Weber began her life on July 4th, 1923 in Springfield, Missouri, later moving to Kansas City. She was always grateful that all of America celebrated her birthday with her each year. She grew up with nine sisters and two brothers in a tiny house on the banks of the Missouri River. Times were hard during the depression and money was scarce, but she was proud to be the first person in her family to finish high school. She attended Moorton and Scarritp Elementary School and graduated from Manual Vocational High School…both in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1941, Ruth moved to Inglewood, California, where her sister Louise already lived, and went to work for the war effort at North American Aviation. Her job at NAA was putting skins around the guns on the B-25 Bomber noses. While working there, she noticed a tall, handsome man who was building fuel tanks in P-51 Mustangs. The two struck up a conversation, and then struck up a romance. His name was Hugo (Hook) Weber. They were married in California on April 9th, 1945, and were married 61 years before his death in 2006. After they married, Ruth and Hugo moved back to Verndale, Minnesota, Hugo’s hometown. They purchased an old church in the country, and moved it into town. After many years of carpentry, the home remains in the same spot in Verndale, now a comfortable rambler with a garage. Ruth worked at many jobs during her time in Verndale. She loved movies and worked for many years in the concession stand at the Verndale Drive-In Theater. She also worked as dietician for the Wadena Hospital, sewed on buttons for Homecrest Industries and wrote a column for the Verndale Sun Newspaper, calling around looking for news to report from her neighborhood. It was a busy time for Ruth and Hugo, but somehow they managed to produce five children: Gary, Donna, Jody, Willie and Naomi, who all grew up and graduated from Verndale High School. Ruth retired in 1983. She was a member of St. Fredericks Catholic Church and active in the Royal Neighbors Club. In the early ‘60s, Ruth and Hugo opened “Hook’s Drive In” in Verndale. This drive-in restaurant featured carhops in the summer and the best homemade donuts in Wadena County. Ruth and Hugo both worked very hard in their restaurant, often opening the doors at 5:30 a.m. and closing them at 11:00 p.m. Once a year, the family packed into the car and made the 14-hour trip to Missouri to meet with Ruth’s side of the family, even celebrating her dad’s 100th birthday. Ruth is survived by a brother, Billy Johnson, Independence, MO, five children: Naomi Ancrile (Jeff) of Vienna, West Virginia; Willie Weber (Julie) of Verndale, MN; Jody Mattern (Rich) of West Fargo, ND; Donna Odegaard (Robert) of Kindred, ND; and Gary Weber (Deb) of Moorhead, MN along with 11 grandchildren: Jered Weber, Trent Weber, Cole Weber, Jessie Mattern, Annie Mattern, Halley Odegaard, Casey Odegaard, Brady Odegaard, Mindy Weber, Kelly Weber and Riley Weber. She was preceded in death by her parents, Cora and William Johnson, her husband, Hugo, nine sisters, Helen Wilson, Georgie Harris, Wilma Turner, Olive Farwalt, Dorothy George, Thelma Tyler, Pauline Fincher, Louise Cindrich, and Doris Jean Johnson; a brother, Clark Johnson, and a grandson, Nicky Mattern. Ruth, or “Poochie,” as she was called by her younger sister, left us on the morning of November 28, 2011, from Bethany Homes in Fargo, where she had resided since 2006. She always told us that she knew how she would die. It would be during a November, and her Mother would fly in a window and take her away to heaven to be with her family. She was very excited to see them again. The last few days, as she declined, she began having conversations with her sisters, so we are confident that she is comfortable and at peace in their loving arms once more.

Ruth Weber

July 4, 1923 - November 28, 2011