Ruth Fossum

Ruth N. Fossum, age 89, died Wednesday in Bethany Retirement Living, Fargo, ND.
Ruth Naomi Fossum was born on October 25, 1922, to Minnick and Gussty Fossum. She grew up in the Maxbass, ND, area and attended school there. She received her Bachelor's degree in education at Minot State Teacher's College, and did post-graduate study in organ and piano at the University of Minnesota.
Ruth taught in Willow City, ND, and Washington State before moving to Fargo in 1951. She taught in the Fargo Public school system at Agassiz and Woodrow Wilson schools. She also taught private organ and piano at Oak Grove High School, taught music at St. Francis School in Moorhead, and taught music and directed the children's choir at Grace Lutheran School in Fargo for over 10 years. She was the first music specialist at the new Park Christian School, Moorhead, MN. She continued to support Oak Grove and Park Christian in their endeavors.
Ruth taught in Willow City, ND, and Washington State before moving to Fargo in 1951. She taught in the Fargo Public school system at Agassiz and Woodrow Wilson schools. She also taught private organ and piano at Oak Grove High School, taught music at St. Francis School in Moorhead, and taught music and directed the children's choir at Grace Lutheran School in Fargo for over 10 years. She was the first music specialist at the new Park Christian School, Moorhead, MN. She continued to support Oak Grove and Park Christian in their endeavors.
She operated a private Piano and Organ Studio in her home and taught hundreds of students from the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo area throughout the years. Ruth continued to teach at her studio until a few years ago.
Ruth always had an interest in music, especially playing and teaching piano and organ. She began playing hymns at her Methodist Church in Maxbass, at a very young age. She continued to perform at a variety of churches in the Minot area, until relocating
Ruth directed several children's choirs, including the choir at Grace Lutheran School, which performed often at school and church events and started a small children's choir called the Music Makers. This group performed about 40 times each year at various
Music was her life, and she loved sharing music with others through performance. Teaching was her passion, and she loved sharing her knowledge with her students. Her faith was extremely important to her and she loved sharing the Joy of the Lord with oth
Ruth is survived by her brother, Chester (Loretta) Fossum, Williston, ND; one brother-in-law, Leon (Ramona) Nicholsen, Franklin, IN; several nieces and nephews, Cheryl Fossum Graham, Donna Fossum, Dwight Watland, Karen (Patrick) Morrison, Stan (Dee) Fossu
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2012, at 2:00 PM at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation will be on Friday, May 4, 2012, from 5 to 7 with a 7:00 PM prayer service at Korsmo Funeral Chapel and will continue an hour prior to