Ruth Saterdal

Ruth Saterdal, 88, passed away at Adam’s Assisted Living Home in Wasilla on May 17, 2013.

A celebration of Ruth’s life is at 1 p.m., May 31 at Valley Funeral Home, 151 East Herning Ave., Wasilla. Pastor Paul Riley will officiate at the service. Refreshments will be served following the services. Everyone is invited and welcome to attend.

Ruth was born March 3, 1925, to Anbres and Ragnhild Saterdal in the family homestead in a beautiful valley in Saterdal, Norway. She was the youngest of her mother’s first four children. After her father’s death, her mom married his brother and gave birth to eight more children. Ruth became deaf at age 12 due to a childhood illness, but this did not stop her from forging ahead in life. At age 30, she moved to Minnesota where other family lived. Not knowing English, she taught herself the language by reading the newspaper. In the early 1960s, she joined her Uncle Carl Saterdal in Wasilla, who came to the Mat-Su Valley and had been working in the mines. Carl passed away in 1978, but Ruth stayed on, going home to Norway for a few years in 1980. Ruth fell in love with Alaska, loving to pick berries in summer and skiing in the winter.

Ruth was a hard worker, and a kind and generous person. She dearly loved her family and was especially fond of children. Her working years were mostly homemaking for people and some with children who she lovingly cared for. She made great breads and doughnuts, among other things like knitting beautiful items. Ruth had a strong faith in God. Before she became disabled, Houston Hilltop Assembly of God was her church home. Her friends and family have many great stories to share about Ruth, some funny, others scary as in her driving days. Overall, everyone agrees that to know her was to love her, and she will be greatly missed by many abroad and here in the Valley.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; and a number of her siblings. She is survived by sisters and a brother in Norway; brother, Carl Saterdal in Washington State; and locally a nephew, Tore Saterdal; plus many close friends, cousins, nieces, nephews and caregivers.

Anyone wishing to donate in her name is asked to give to a Children’s Food Fund of their choice.