To view the Vigil Service please, go to Vigil

Ruth Ann Nienas, 81, of Grand Forks, ND, was called home to be with her Lord on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Valley Senior Living Transitions in Grand Forks.

Ruth Ann Schumacher was born on January 30, 1940, at the hospital in Northwood, ND. She was the sixth of nine children born to John V. Schumacher and Luella (Gorman) Schumacher. She was raised on the family farm west of Reynolds, ND.  Ruth was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and graduated from Reynolds High School in 1957. After high school, she went to work at the First National Bank in downtown Grand Forks as a proof operator. Twenty-five years later, her daughter would also work at First National and discover that they knew many of the same people still at the bank!

During the summer of 1957, Ruth met her True Love while roller skating in Reynolds. They were introduced by her brother, Ardie who was a friend of Les' cousin, and the rest is history! On November 5, 1958, Ruth was united in marriage to Lester F. Nienas at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Reynolds. After they were married, they went to live in Grand Forks, where they resided at the time of Ruth's death. Ruth and Les were blessed with two children.

After the children started school, Ruth started working part-time in the children's department at the Sears store in Grand Forks. She would continue to work part-time at Sears for about 30 years, until her retirement.  Ruth and Les attended Holy Family Catholic Church, in Grand Forks, for most of their married life. Ruth was active in the Altar Society for many years.  She really enjoyed the annual "Christmas Tea" benefit, craft and bake sale and contributing baked goods and hand-crafted items as well as volunteering to work in the booths at the Tea.  Another favorite pass-time/hobby was playing duplicate bridge with a couple of ladies groups for many years. She was always proud of the fact that she was usually elected to keep score and be the banker. To keep her skills sharp, she and Les also played bridge with other couples during evening get-togethers. She and her family also enjoyed camping at several area lakes while the kids and grandkids were growing up. Many weekends were spent with groups of friends and family enjoying campfires, dancing, waterskiing and cooking together.

Ruth is survived by her husband of 62 years, Les; a daughter, Terri (James) Fox and son, Mark (Sherri) Nienas, all of Las Vegas, NV; 3 grandchildren: Lindsey (Mike Rose) Ruppert of Las Vegas, Jacob Nienas of Las Vegas and Haley (Gunner) Neet, currently stationed in Guam; sisters, Jean (Lloyd) Schreiner of Grand Forks, ND, Ethel Adams of Coon Rapids, MN and Bonnie (Larry) Kitchell of St. George, UT; sisters in-law, Mary Ellen Schumacher, Joan Schumacher and Judy Schumacher. Also, several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her parents-in-law, Frank and Dora Nienas; brothers, Vernon Schumacher, Gerald "Bud" Schumacher, Bernard Schumacher and Arden Schumacher; a sister, Rosemary Reilly; brothers-in-law, Tom Reilly and Gerald "Red" Adams and sister-in-law, Donna Schumacher. Also, several cousins, nieces and nephews and her special kitty, Homer.

Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 A.M. Friday, September 24, 2021, in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Reynolds, ND.
Visitation: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday with a 7:00 p.m. vigil service in the Historic Norman Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the liturgy in the church on Friday.
Burial: Calvary South Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND.

To view the livestream Vigil Service and Funeral Mass please, go to https://www.facebook.com/normanfuneralhomechapel