Ruth Elaine (Strode) Gabert

Ruth Elaine (Strode) Gabert, 81, of Fountain of the Sun, Mesa, Ariz., died peacefully on May 15, after a long battle with cancer. Mrs. Gabert was a longtime resident of Moses Lake, Wash. before moving to Arizona.

A memorial service was held in Mesa, Ariz. and a graveside service will be held in Moses Lake at Pioneer Memorial Gardens on June 12, 2004 at 3:30 p.m.

Mrs. Gabert was born June 29, 1922 on the family farm in Aliceton Township, Ransom County, ND to Hans and Louisa Holt, the youngest of seven children. She attended school in Aliceton Township and Milnor, ND. She graduated from Mayville Teacher's College in Mayville, ND in 1943.

She married Marvin L. Strode on May 17, 1943. They farmed in North Dakota before moving to Moses Lake, Wash. in 1950. Mrs. Gabert was active in church activities and choir at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

She taught school in Moses Lake for 25 years at Peninsula Elementary and at Chief Moses and Frontier Junior High Schools.

She was widowed in 1969. She married Ray C. Fellows in 1971 and they moved to Arizona in 1976. She was widowed again in 1982.

Mrs. Gabert married Arthur Gabert in 1984 in Mesa. They lived in Fountain of the Sun where they enjoyed activities with their many friends. She enjoyed entertaining her many visitors from up north. A favorite activity of hers was taking short trips to Laughlin, Nev. to play video poker, where she was often very lucky.

She is survived by: her husband, Arthur Gabert of Mesa; her brother, Arnold Holt of Mesa; son, Gerald M. Strode of Woodinville, Wash.; daughters, Virginia L. Fields of Kennewick, Wash. and Kathleen L. Goodwin of Walla Walla, Wash.; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son, Dan Strode in 1974.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Hospice or the American Cancer Society.

A no-host celebration of her life will be held at Chico's Pizza Parlor following the service.