Ruth Samson

Ruth Louise Samson passed away on April 9, 2023, at her home in Sun City West, AZ, surrounded by her children.

Ruth was born on June 24, 1935, in Fargo, ND. Her parents were Arthur Moe and Minnie (Johnson) Moe. Ruth was the youngest of the Moe children. Her older siblings Lester, Doris, Marjorie, Thomas and James all preceded Ruth in death.

Ruth was raised in Christine where Arthur ran the Farmers Mercantile Store. The smell of lutefisk was very familiar to Ruth and all of her brothers and sisters. She attended Christine schools, and graduated from Christine High School in 1953, where she was valedictorian. (She would never tell how many students there were in her graduating class!)

She was an accomplished musician, and played organ at Christine Lutheran Church at age 14. She played organ at many weddings at the church, and remarked that she was frequently compensated with a thank you card and a new lace handkerchief. Playing for family and friends was important to Ruth, and she was proud of the new piano which she purchased for her Arizona home just last year.

Ruth graduated from Moorhead State College in 1957. Upon graduation, she immediately began her 35-year teaching career in Fergus Falls, MN, and continued in Abercrombie, Christine, and Dilworth, MN. She then moved to Moorhead Schools, where she taught for 30 years at North and South Junior High. She was also proud to have served as girls’ golf coach at South Junior High. Ruth received her Master’s degree in Education from NDSU before retiring from teaching in 1994.

Ruth married Richard Samson in 1957, and together with Richard, raised three children – Jeffrey, Rebecca, and Jennifer. The family made their home in Moorhead, and also purchased a home on Pelican Lake in 1969. The Samson “Broadwater Beach Compound” has always been, and continues to be, important to the entire family.

Richard and Ruth purchased a home in Sun City West, in 1997. Richard passed away in Arizona in 2003, and Ruth continued to enjoy her winters golfing and spending time with friends there until her passing.

Ruth is survived by her three children, Jeff (Ivy) Samson, Becky (David) Berg, and Jenny (Al) Erickson. She was a wonderful grandmother to Thomas (Stephanie) Erickson, Kelly Erickson, Andrew (Samantha) Berg, Charlie Berg, and Kathryn (Travis) Brownberg. She has also cherished her great-grandchildren Lena Berg and Armond Erickson.

Visitation for Ruth will be Friday, April 21, 2023, from 4 – 6 PM, in Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead.  Her funeral will be at the funeral home at 11:30 AM, Saturday, April 22, 2023.  Burial will take place in Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND.