Ruth Lockhart

Ruth Jeanette Lockhart Grandin, North Dakota Ruth J Lockhart, age 97, died Sunday at Hillsboro Medical Center under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. Ruth MacDonald was born January 30, 1912 in Milton, ND. Her parents were the Rev. John and Margaret (Lakey) MacDonald. She grew up and graduated in 1928 from Milton High School at the age of 16. She earned a scholarship to Jamestown College where she excelled in academics and sports such as swimming and basketball. In 1932, at the age of 20, she graduated from college and returned to the Grandin, ND area to teach for a brief time in a country school. Later she worked for Thompson Farms and eventually Lockhart Farms. In June 1936 she married Roy Lockhart. For the next 33 years they farmed in the Grandin area and traveled in the winters until Roy’s death in 1969. She then kept the farming operation going with the help of her son, Donald. Ruth was a woman of great intelligence, dignity and class. She served her church and community in many capacities; as a church elder for the Presbyterian church, treasurer, 4-H leader, homemaker leader, community club member and bridge club member. Her greatest joys were her grandchildren, a good book, chocolates and a game of Bridge. She loved to garden and was passionately interested in farming and its history in the Red River Valley. There were few things she could not do. Her beautiful, sweet smile and words of encouragement will be sorely missed. Survivors include her son, R. Donald (Patricia) Lockhart; three grandchildren, Kelley (Richard Ehrich) St. Paul, MN; Sam (Kristie) Argusville, ND; Ross (Amber) Sacramento, CA; one brother, John Gordon MacDonald, Sacramento, CA; two great grandsons and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roy; her sister, Margaret Boyd; and her brother, Maurice MacDonald. VISITATION: 5-7 PM Thursday, May 21, 2009 at Wildeman Funeral Home in Hillsboro, ND – and also one hour prior to the service in the church on Friday PRAYER SERVICE: 7 PM Thursday at Wildeman Funeral Home FUNERAL SERVICE: 10 AM Friday, May 22, 2009 at Grandin Presbyterian Church in Grandin, ND BURIAL: Grandin Community Cemetery Arrangements entrusted to the care of Wildeman Funeral Home in Hillsboro, ND.