Obituary, Ruth W. Sandvik, 100

Ruth W. Sandvik, 100, Petersburg resident for 75 years, died on July 29, 2016 at Seattle"s Kline Galland home in the comfort of her family. Ruth fractured her hip in Petersburg, then was medevaced to Swedish Hospital in Seattle. After a successful operation she suffered a stroke and didn"t ever recover.

Ruth was born in Portland, Oregon to Hermann and Vesta Wetterborg on February 8, 1916. Her parents preceded her in death as well as her sister, Betty. She and Betty attended Portland schools then Ruth received a Liberal Arts Degree from Reed College also in Portland. She taught one year in Hood River, Oregon then disenchanted with teaching, got a job with the local telephone company.

A childhood friend from Portland, Alice Foster Longworth, called from Alaska telling her the local superintendent had a last minute opening and was offering her a job teaching junior high. Ruth and Alice remained lifelong friends, even hosting a radio show on the local FM station KFSK.

In 1941 Ruth headed north on a steamer for what would be a long run. She taught school until son Neil was born and returned as high school librarian in 1966 after getting a Masters in Library Science at the University of Portland that same year. She became fond of calligraphy there and became accomplished enough to teach for many years.

She married a local fisherman, Oscar Sandvik in 1943. Their other children, Mark and Diane followed in 1948 and 1956 respectively. Oscar preceded her in death in 1969. Ruth was a seasoned sailor helping Oscar on many trips to Seattle and back on his halibut boat, the Munroe.

Ruth was involved in many activities and organizations in her long tenure in Petersburg. She began watching for Japanese warplanes atop the gymnasium during WWII

and went on to help found KFSK in that building and

perform decades of public service in many spheres, including the Civic Improvement

Council, The Arts Council, the Garden Club, the Clausen Museum, VFW Auxiliary, party politics, scouting and boards

and commissions of all descriptions. She was an accomplished painter and many of her

works hang as treasures to this day.

After her teaching and library days were over Ruth"s quest for knowledge was an inspiration to everyone. She found Depak Chopra and Dr Wayne Dyer and when she ran across the book, "I"m okay, You"re okay" she bought 20 copies and sent them to her friends.

Ruth always tried to maintain a fit lifestyle. If she wasn"t swimming she was walking the loop with her friends into her nineties. She embraced the benefits of Tai Chi with the same group for many years at Mountain View Manor.

Ruth filled her retirement with travel, gardening and her family. She lived at her home on 2nd Street for seventy years. She moved to Mountain View Manor Assisted Living in 2011 until her death and could view her beloved Devils Thumb right outside her window.

Memorial Services will be held September 24 at 2:00 pm at the Petersburg Lutheran Church. Refreshments and remembrances will follow at the Holy Cross House. In lieu of flowers remembrances can be made to KFSK.