Ruth (Hugos) Ryffel, 90, of Arlington, Va., a native of Great Falls, died of a stroke Sept. 10 at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va.
Her memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at Montclair Methodist Church in Belt, with burial in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Arlington Funeral Home handled arrangements there.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Col. George G. Ryffel, USMC, of Arlington; three children, Carolyn Ryffel of Danbury, Conn., Kathryn Navascues (Julio) of Washington, D.C., and George Ryffel II (Laurie) of Germantown, Md.; and two grandchildren, Julio and Ana Navascues of Washington, D.C.
She was preceded in death by her three siblings, Henry, Clara Hall and Ray.
Ruth was born in Great Falls, Mont., on Jan. 21, 1920, the fourth of four children of Henry Oliver Hugos and Nanna Nilsen Hugos. Her mother Nanna immigrated from Balsfjord, Norway, and after their marriage homesteaded in Big Sandy, Mont., before moving to Great Falls, where they raised their family at 1111 7th Ave. North.
Ruth graduated from Great Falls High School in 1937 and was active in Girl Scouts, the YWCA, school sports and especially the music programs of the schools and the city. She was principal viola in the Great Falls Orchestra and in the String Quartet, a chair she subsequently endowed in memory of her mother. As a freshman in 1937, she attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., on a music scholarship. She then transferred to the University of Montana (Missoula) to continue her music studies. Here she became acquainted with George Gustave Ryffel of Belt during the years of 1938-1941.
They married on June 13, 1942, in Reno, Nev., just before George shipped off to the Pacific Theatre of World War II as a Marine 2nd Lieutenant. Ruth then spent her time between Southern California and Montana waiting for George's return. During her husband's 28-year career in the Marine Corps, Ruth was the quintessential military wife, raising her family in many locations and taking in stride the numerous cross-country moves. The family lived in Camp Pendleton, Calif.,, San Francisco, Seattle, Kodiak Island (Alaska), Colesville, Calif., high in the Sierra Mountains, Quantico, Va., Arlington and Norfolk. Upon George's retirement in 1968, they settled in Arlington returning in the summer to their cabin in Monarch, Mont. For the next 30 years, Ruth was an active participant in several family businesses.
Ruth was dedicated to volunteerism all her life. These included the Navy Relief Society, Girl Scouts, and the Swimming Club Board of Directors. She also served on the board of directors for the Arlington, Va., and Metropolitan, D.C. YMCAs for 20 years and managed the Arlington Y Garage Sale for 15 years, raising $80,000.
A natural athlete, Ruth played tennis, basketball, softball and volleyball throughout her Great Falls school years. She also was a Red Cross-certified swimming instructor and one of the first female lifeguards at Mitchell Pool in Great Falls. She continued her love of sports throughout her life, playing tennis in Arlington groups, swimming and doing step aerobics well into her 70s. She was also a skilled seamstress, tailoring suits, coats and formals for her and her daughters.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Great Falls Symphony, P.O. Box 1078, Great Falls, MT 59403.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
Printed in the Great Falls Tribune September 25, 2010.
Her memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at Montclair Methodist Church in Belt, with burial in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Arlington Funeral Home handled arrangements there.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Col. George G. Ryffel, USMC, of Arlington; three children, Carolyn Ryffel of Danbury, Conn., Kathryn Navascues (Julio) of Washington, D.C., and George Ryffel II (Laurie) of Germantown, Md.; and two grandchildren, Julio and Ana Navascues of Washington, D.C.
She was preceded in death by her three siblings, Henry, Clara Hall and Ray.
Ruth was born in Great Falls, Mont., on Jan. 21, 1920, the fourth of four children of Henry Oliver Hugos and Nanna Nilsen Hugos. Her mother Nanna immigrated from Balsfjord, Norway, and after their marriage homesteaded in Big Sandy, Mont., before moving to Great Falls, where they raised their family at 1111 7th Ave. North.
Ruth graduated from Great Falls High School in 1937 and was active in Girl Scouts, the YWCA, school sports and especially the music programs of the schools and the city. She was principal viola in the Great Falls Orchestra and in the String Quartet, a chair she subsequently endowed in memory of her mother. As a freshman in 1937, she attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., on a music scholarship. She then transferred to the University of Montana (Missoula) to continue her music studies. Here she became acquainted with George Gustave Ryffel of Belt during the years of 1938-1941.
They married on June 13, 1942, in Reno, Nev., just before George shipped off to the Pacific Theatre of World War II as a Marine 2nd Lieutenant. Ruth then spent her time between Southern California and Montana waiting for George's return. During her husband's 28-year career in the Marine Corps, Ruth was the quintessential military wife, raising her family in many locations and taking in stride the numerous cross-country moves. The family lived in Camp Pendleton, Calif.,, San Francisco, Seattle, Kodiak Island (Alaska), Colesville, Calif., high in the Sierra Mountains, Quantico, Va., Arlington and Norfolk. Upon George's retirement in 1968, they settled in Arlington returning in the summer to their cabin in Monarch, Mont. For the next 30 years, Ruth was an active participant in several family businesses.
Ruth was dedicated to volunteerism all her life. These included the Navy Relief Society, Girl Scouts, and the Swimming Club Board of Directors. She also served on the board of directors for the Arlington, Va., and Metropolitan, D.C. YMCAs for 20 years and managed the Arlington Y Garage Sale for 15 years, raising $80,000.
A natural athlete, Ruth played tennis, basketball, softball and volleyball throughout her Great Falls school years. She also was a Red Cross-certified swimming instructor and one of the first female lifeguards at Mitchell Pool in Great Falls. She continued her love of sports throughout her life, playing tennis in Arlington groups, swimming and doing step aerobics well into her 70s. She was also a skilled seamstress, tailoring suits, coats and formals for her and her daughters.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Great Falls Symphony, P.O. Box 1078, Great Falls, MT 59403.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
Printed in the Great Falls Tribune September 25, 2010.
Ruth (Hugos) Ryffel, 90, of Arlington, Va., a native of Great Falls, died of a stroke Sept. 10 at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va.
Her memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at Montclair Methodist Church in Belt, with burial in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Arlington Funeral Home handled arrangements there.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Col. George G. Ryffel, USMC, of Arlington; three children, Carolyn Ryffel of Danbury, Conn., Kathryn Navascues (Julio) of Washington, D.C., and George Ryffel II (Laurie) of Germantown, Md.; and two grandchildren, Julio and Ana Navascues of Washington, D.C.
She was preceded in death by her three siblings, Henry, Clara Hall and Ray.
Ruth was born in Great Falls, Mont., on Jan. 21, 1920, the fourth of four children of Henry Oliver Hugos and Nanna Nilsen Hugos. Her mother Nanna immigrated from Balsfjord, Norway, and after their marriage homesteaded in Big Sandy, Mont., before moving to Great Falls, where they raised their family at 1111 7th Ave. North.
Ruth graduated from Great Falls High School in 1937 and was active in Girl Scouts, the YWCA, school sports and especially the music programs of the schools and the city. She was principal viola in the Great Falls Orchestra and in the String Quartet, a chair she subsequently endowed in memory of her mother. As a freshman in 1937, she attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., on a music scholarship. She then transferred to the University of Montana (Missoula) to continue her music studies. Here she became acquainted with George Gustave Ryffel of Belt during the years of 1938-1941.
They married on June 13, 1942, in Reno, Nev., just before George shipped off to the Pacific Theatre of World War II as a Marine 2nd Lieutenant. Ruth then spent her time between Southern California and Montana waiting for George's return. During her husband's 28-year career in the Marine Corps, Ruth was the quintessential military wife, raising her family in many locations and taking in stride the numerous cross-country moves. The family lived in Camp Pendleton, Calif.,, San Francisco, Seattle, Kodiak Island (Alaska), Colesville, Calif., high in the Sierra Mountains, Quantico, Va., Arlington and Norfolk. Upon George's retirement in 1968, they settled in Arlington returning in the summer to their cabin in Monarch, Mont. For the next 30 years, Ruth was an active participant in several family businesses.
Ruth was dedicated to volunteerism all her life. These included the Navy Relief Society, Girl Scouts, and the Swimming Club Board of Directors. She also served on the board of directors for the Arlington, Va., and Metropolitan, D.C. YMCAs for 20 years and managed the Arlington Y Garage Sale for 15 years, raising $80,000.
A natural athlete, Ruth played tennis, basketball, softball and volleyball throughout her Great Falls school years. She also was a Red Cross-certified swimming instructor and one of the first female lifeguards at Mitchell Pool in Great Falls. She continued her love of sports throughout her life, playing tennis in Arlington groups, swimming and doing step aerobics well into her 70s. She was also a skilled seamstress, tailoring suits, coats and formals for her and her daughters.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Great Falls Symphony, P.O. Box 1078, Great Falls, MT 59403.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
Printed in the Great Falls Tribune September 25, 2010.
Her memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at Montclair Methodist Church in Belt, with burial in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Arlington Funeral Home handled arrangements there.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Col. George G. Ryffel, USMC, of Arlington; three children, Carolyn Ryffel of Danbury, Conn., Kathryn Navascues (Julio) of Washington, D.C., and George Ryffel II (Laurie) of Germantown, Md.; and two grandchildren, Julio and Ana Navascues of Washington, D.C.
She was preceded in death by her three siblings, Henry, Clara Hall and Ray.
Ruth was born in Great Falls, Mont., on Jan. 21, 1920, the fourth of four children of Henry Oliver Hugos and Nanna Nilsen Hugos. Her mother Nanna immigrated from Balsfjord, Norway, and after their marriage homesteaded in Big Sandy, Mont., before moving to Great Falls, where they raised their family at 1111 7th Ave. North.
Ruth graduated from Great Falls High School in 1937 and was active in Girl Scouts, the YWCA, school sports and especially the music programs of the schools and the city. She was principal viola in the Great Falls Orchestra and in the String Quartet, a chair she subsequently endowed in memory of her mother. As a freshman in 1937, she attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., on a music scholarship. She then transferred to the University of Montana (Missoula) to continue her music studies. Here she became acquainted with George Gustave Ryffel of Belt during the years of 1938-1941.
They married on June 13, 1942, in Reno, Nev., just before George shipped off to the Pacific Theatre of World War II as a Marine 2nd Lieutenant. Ruth then spent her time between Southern California and Montana waiting for George's return. During her husband's 28-year career in the Marine Corps, Ruth was the quintessential military wife, raising her family in many locations and taking in stride the numerous cross-country moves. The family lived in Camp Pendleton, Calif.,, San Francisco, Seattle, Kodiak Island (Alaska), Colesville, Calif., high in the Sierra Mountains, Quantico, Va., Arlington and Norfolk. Upon George's retirement in 1968, they settled in Arlington returning in the summer to their cabin in Monarch, Mont. For the next 30 years, Ruth was an active participant in several family businesses.
Ruth was dedicated to volunteerism all her life. These included the Navy Relief Society, Girl Scouts, and the Swimming Club Board of Directors. She also served on the board of directors for the Arlington, Va., and Metropolitan, D.C. YMCAs for 20 years and managed the Arlington Y Garage Sale for 15 years, raising $80,000.
A natural athlete, Ruth played tennis, basketball, softball and volleyball throughout her Great Falls school years. She also was a Red Cross-certified swimming instructor and one of the first female lifeguards at Mitchell Pool in Great Falls. She continued her love of sports throughout her life, playing tennis in Arlington groups, swimming and doing step aerobics well into her 70s. She was also a skilled seamstress, tailoring suits, coats and formals for her and her daughters.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Great Falls Symphony, P.O. Box 1078, Great Falls, MT 59403.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
Printed in the Great Falls Tribune September 25, 2010.
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