Ruth Stearns, 98, formerly of Bowman, ND, passed away on July 12, 2026 at the Edgewood Village in Bismarck, ND.

Funeral Services for Ruth will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 10:00 am at the Bowman Methodist Church. Pastor Corey Jenkins will officiate with burial to follow in the Bowman Cemetery. There will be a Family and Friends Service on Friday, July 17, 2027 at the Bowman Methodist Church beginning at 7:00 pm.

Ruth I. Stearns passed away on July 12, 2026 in Bismarck, ND. She was 98 years old, one month shy of 99. Ruth was born to Harry and Betty Fisher on August 13,1927 in Lemmon, SD.

As an infant, the family moved to Bowman, ND where she grew up and attended school with her two brothers, Robert and Eugene. They all helped with the 18hr/day family business, the Bowman Creamery, which during the times of the Great Depression and World War II, was the busiest business in Bowman County (by purchases/gross receipts per Dunn/Bradstreet-Minneapolis).

Ruth was an excellent student and played piano and organ. Her mother also played the piano and when she was playing in a band for dances, she INSISTED upon taking Ruth along. It was through music and a dance at the Karinen Community Hall that she met Roger Stearns at the age of 13. After high school, Ruth and Roger dated, married and thus the town-gal started her 73 years of married life on Stearns Ranch.

Ruth and Roger had three boys: Bill, Dave and Todd. They lived on the ranch until Bill started high school when they moved to Bowman in 1961. During their time on the ranch, Ruth and Roger were actively involved in the community of Buffalo, SD. Roger with “Masons” and Ruth was involved in “Eastern Star” where she also served as a Worthy Grand Matron.

Ruth was an excellent ranch cook and baker. While living and working on the ranch, Ruth, along with her sister-in-law, Donna Stearns, prepared three to five meals a day and delivered them to the spring sheep herders/shearing crews and to the summer-fall hay/crop workers. Additionally, they were involved at the Karinen Hall preparing lunch bags for the summer dances and RC fund raising drives. During the long winters on the ranch, not only did the two ladies and their husbands, Roger and Don, make weeklytrips to Buffalo for bowling league but also made sure their children attended weekly Sunday school/church in Bowman.

Ruth quickly picked up life in the Bowman community with golf, bowling, bridge, Eastern Star, and the Methodist Church (UMW and Circle).

Ruth loved her children, persuading (strongly) her three ranch boys to learn to play the piano and a musical instrument. She was always “front and center” for 10 years-worth of watching high school football games and wrestling matches. Later in life, she attended many sporting events for her grandchildren in Bowman and in Oregon.

She loved to listen to music and dance. She and Roger were regulars at the Flagstone Terrace and at state-wide square-dancing events. Ruth was an outstanding bridge player and played weekly with her friends. Ruth and Irene Lorenz were a very respected duo on the multi-state duplicate-bridge circuit becoming a Bridge Life Master.

Ruth and Roger were able to travel to several foreign countries in their later years, with their last trip being to South Africa. They especially enjoyed their annual summer golfing trips to Wasagaming, Manitoba with the Thoms.

We loved and admired our dear mother, Ruth, for that intangible quality of “grace” and a nearly impeccable manner that was evident in the way she carried herself throughout life. We often credited her longevity to the daily 3 mile walks she’d take.Mom continued to share her welcoming smile to the end.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Roger (2019), eldest son Bill (2005), and brothers Robert (2013) and Eugene (2003). Ruth is survived by her sons: Dave (Sandy) and Todd (Bobbie), seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Memorials are appreciated and may be directed to the benefit of the Bowman Methodist Church.