Ruth (Hall Harken) Hickel age 91 of Ulm, died Saturday February 21, 2015 of natural causes at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls. Ruth was born on August 15, 1923, in Absorkee, to Alta May and Harry Hall. After her mother's death Ruth spent time at an orphanage in Twin Bridges before she was adopted by Herman and Anna (Osterman) Harken and moved Carterville. During high school, Ruth assisted her father at the Carterville Post Office. Ruth attended nursing school in Michigan, while there she volunteered for the Army Nurses Corp. After graduating from nursing school, Ruth worked as a nurse in South Dakota before returning home to Montana. Ruth married the love of her life, Edward Hickel, on June 6, 1948 at Concordia Lutheran Church in Forsyth. Ed and Ruth were married for 56 years and blessed with three children: two boys Edward Jr. and Harry, and a beautiful daughter, Ruthie. They moved to Ulm in 1962. Ruth worked at the Deaconess Hospital and Great Falls Clinic as a supervisory nurse until she retired. They were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Falls. Ruth was a true Montana Lady. She was a caring neighbor: part of the PTA, Ulm Fire Women's Axillary, Ulm Home Demonstration Club and served as an election judge. She loved the outdoors: horse riding, flowers, hunting and fishing. She was generous with not only her time but also her talents: sewing, quilting, crochet and especially cooking. Ruth was kind and thoughtful, a true blessing to friends and family alike. Ruth is survived by her sons Ed Hickel of Ulm and Harry (Nellene) Hickel of Wolf Creek; sisters Ruby Ploechel of Houghton Lake, Michigan and Betty Stern of Portland, OR; grandchildren Kenneth, John, Andrew, Anna and Sandra; and 5 great-grandchildren. Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Ed; daughter Ruthie; sisters Edna Crowley, Editha Sausedo and Pearl Harken; brothers Melvin Hall, Rudy and Herman Harken; and daughter-in-law Sharalee. Visitation open to the public will be held on Thursday, February 26, from 6-8 pm in the Rose Room Chapel at Croxford Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held Friday, February 27, 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Falls with a celebration of Ruth's life to follow. Ruth will be buried next to her husband in Absorakee at a later date.

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