Ruby Sharon Erickson, 81, of Grand Forks, ND passed away Friday, December 20, 2024 in Altru Hospital in Grand Forks.

Ruby Sharon Roesler was born on March 3, 1943, in rural Glendale Township of Logan County, North Dakota, to Samuel and Katie (Graf) Roesler. She was the youngest of four siblings, including sisters Helen and Lila, and her brother Melvin. The Roeslers had a small family farm that consisted of raising small grains, beef and dairy cattle, and poultry. Samuel died when Ruby was only 10 years old in 1953.  She graduated from Napoleon High School in May of 1961.

Ruby and her oldest sister, Helen then moved to Jamestown, ND where they lived together and worked as waitresses. It was during her employment as a waitress at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Jamestown that Ruby met Arloe Erickson. Arloe would come for a meal at the Wagon Wheel to see Ruby and the two would go roller skating together. Ruby and Arloe were married in Jamestown on April 21st of 1968 at Trinity Lutheran Church. They were nearly two years into their married life in Jamestown when Ruby gave birth to twins Mindie Jo and Corey Allen on February 10, 1970.

The family then moved to Milwaukee, WI in 1972 to begin Arloe's career as an Air Traffic Control Specialist. They next moved to Pierre, SD to be closer to family, where Ruby gave birth to Troy Donnell on May 5th of 1973. Later that year, the Erickson family was able to return to Jamestown when an Air Traffic Control position opened there for Arloe. Ruby trained at David's House of Beauty School of Cosmetology in Jamestown to become a hairstylist.

In 1988, the family moved again to Grand Forks to further Arloe's career after the Federal Air Traffic Control system was reconfigured to consolidate small airport stations into a single state facility. Ruby then completed a training program in Crookston, MN, to become a Certified Nurse Assistant. She worked as a home-healthcare CNA in Grand Forks until 1998. Ruby was a baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and her faith was the foundation of her life. Her hobbies included playing piano and accordion, and she loved to shop. She most enjoyed spending time with family, her grandchildren, and her pet cats.

Ruby was preceded in death by her father, Samuel (1953); her infant son, Corey (1970); her daughter, Mindie (2003); her sister, Lila (2004); her mother, Katie (2006); her brother, Melvin (2018); and her sister, Helen (2024).

Ruby is survived by her husband, Arloe; her son, Troy (Leanne); her grandchildren, Zorryn, Ryker, and Cadence; and her nieces, Pam (Trace) Hammargren and Brenda (Keith) Lauer.

Memorial donations for Ruby can be made to Prairie Voyager Adventist School at 3610 Cherry Street in Grand Forks.

Funeral Service: 1:00 p.m. Sunday, December 29, 2024, in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 3610 Cherry St, Grand Forks, ND 58201.
Visitation: One hour prior to the service on Sunday.
Burial : Augustana Lutheran Cemetery, Sheyenne, ND in the spring.