Ruby Eckert Holdahl

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” –Psalm 73:26

Ruby Eckert Holdahl was peacefully ushered into Heaven on May 24, 2019 with family by her side. She had resided at Fountain View Village the past several years and had many loving care-givers while she was there.

Ruby was born to Arthur and Fanny Fugleberg on June 29, 1925 in Roseau, Minn. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Vernon Fugleberg; sisters, Peggy Reese and Blanche Dasenbrock; husbands Wayne G. Eckert and Olaf R. Holdahl; son, Dwight Eckert (Sharon); daughter Sally Eckert and daughter-in-law Mary Eckert.

She is survived by her sons, Rod Eckert (Renee) of Cottonwood, Idaho, Keith Eckert and daughter Lynn Fink (Michael) both of Fountain Hills; many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Ruby met Wayne Eckert on a trip to California via Idaho in 1944 and they were married on June 12, 1945. They lived on the Eckert ranch in Cottonwood, where they raised five children and worked together farming and ranching until Wayne’s death in 1974.

Ruby married Olaf R. Holdahl on June 20, 1977 and they lived in both Golden Valley, Minn. and Fountain Hills until Olaf’s death in 2004, and then Ruby spent the remainder of her years in Fountain Hills.

Her beautiful blue eyes spoke to everyone and her genuine kindness, humility and love for family and friends were evident to all. She loved flowers, painting, cooking and baking and always had her house filled with the sweet aroma of her gentle spirit, as well as roses from her garden and cinnamon rolls, cakes, cookies, pies or a wonderful meal from her kitchen.

Her hospitality was known to many throughout her years wherever she lived and was only surpassed by her generosity. Ruby loved the Lord with all her heart and lived her life with unwavering faith. She had deep joy and was content in all circumstances because of that faith and continued to trust in the Lord until her last breath.

Though talking became difficult the last few months of her life, she could still whisper The Lord’s Prayer, the 23rd Psalm and would try to sing hymns of the faith like “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” “How Great Thou Art,” “When We All Get to Heaven,” as well as worship songs that ministered to her spirit.

Ruby brought great joy to everyone, was a great encourager, believed the best in everyone, treated others with “more kindness than was necessary” and was the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman. “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Prov. 31:30.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Reformed Living Bible Church located at 6140 E. Thunderbird Rd., Scottsdale, AZ. Burial will be in Cottonwood, Idaho.