Ruth Knutson

Ruth Elnora Knutson, 99, of Troutdale, Ore., went home to be with her Lord on Jan. 9, 2018. She was born to Ada Belle (Burkhart) and Louis S. Apsey in Genoa, Colo., on Aug. 21, 1918. She married Orvil Knutson on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934, in Limon, Colo. They moved to Bingen in May of 1937 and built the home where she lived, for almost 70 years, before moving to Troutdale in 2008 to be closer to her daughter and family. During WWII, Ruth worked in the tent pole factory to support the war effort. After their daughter started school, she worked seasonally at Underwood Fruit and the Diamond Fruit Cannery until retirement. Orvil and Ruth loved their community and were always eager to volunteer for whatever needed to be done. Together, they were among the founding families of Our Savior Lutheran Church, involved with the Bingen Fire Department, Lions Club, Dance Club, and Old Time Fiddlers, to name a few. They were honored to be Grand Marshals for the Huckleberry Festival in the 1980s. Ruth enjoyed the many ‘camping’ trips she and Orvil took with friends and family, including a trip to Alaska in 1988, but her greatest joy was always her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be truly missed. She was preceded in death by her half-sister Blanche Amberger and her beloved husband of 68 years, Orvil. She is survived by her daughter Adalou McAmis

and her husband James ‘Mack’ of Troutdale; grandchildren Eric McAmis and his wife Tara of Gresham, Ore., Kristin Olson and her husband Seth of Milwaukie, and ‘adopted’ grandson Robert Betz of Gresham; and great-grandchildren Teagan McAmis, Sawyer Olson and Garrett Olson. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at 1 p.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bingen with a luncheon provided after returning from the cemetery in Hood River. Memorial contributions in Ruth’s name may be given to Our Savior Lutheran Church LWML. Condolences may be sent to Ruth’s family by visiting www.gardnerfh.com.