Ruby Marie Justison of Kingston died Tuesday, July 20, 2004, at her home. She was 81. Services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 26, at Ostmark Lutheran Church in rural Watkins with Rev. Melinda Melhus officiating. Interment followed the service in the church cemetery. Visitation was from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, July 25, and one hour prior to services at the church. Ruby Marie Justison was born Feb. 1, 1923, in Troy, Idaho, to Albert and Augusta (Calen) Johnson. She grew up in the mountains around Troy and graduated from Troy High School in 1941. While attending high school she lived in town with family friends during the school year. Ruby was baptized in the Lutheran faith and was a member of Ostmark Lutheran Church where she was active in the Ostmark WELCA. Ruby was united in marriage to Milton Justison July 5, 1941, in Grangeville, Idaho. They made their home near Moscow, Idaho, and lived there for several years before moving to the Kingston area. They farmed in North Kingston before moving to town where Ruby lived for the past 52 years. Ruby worked for the Kingston School District #1073 as a school cook. She later worked as a nurse’s aid at the Cokato Nursing Home for more than 30 years; she retired in 1994. Ruby was an active member of the Kingston community. She was a member of the Johnson-Kelly American Legion Auxiliary and the Kingston Garden Club, and was a 4-H Leader and VA Volunteer at the Veterans Hospital in St. Cloud. Ruby loved to spend time sewing, gardening, quilting, crocheting and embroidering. She was an avid sports fan and followed basketball, baseball and football with a passion. Ruby was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who took pride in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ruby was preceded in death by her husband Milton; parents; one infant daughter; granddaughter Jennifer Richards; and grandson David Justison. She is survived by her children Raymond (and Rosalie) Justison of St. Paul Park; Marie (and Al) McCaskill of Yonkers, N.Y.; Roger (and Susan) Justison of St. Cloud; Carol (and Gordon) Johnson of Atwater; Dennis Justison of Ortonville; 15 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother Clifford Johnson of Clarkston, Wash.; sisters Bernice Alsaker of Spokane, Wash.; Betty Ekwall of Clarkston, Wash.; and Wanda (and Tom) O’Brian of Minersville, Pa. Arrangements were by Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel.
