Tributes

Ruby Irene Morrow Hanson was born in an Eastern Washington town, the second of three siblings, to her parents who were wheat farmers. She grew up living in several places in the Palouse area. At 4 years old, her mother discovered her missing and followed her footprints to the local school. Ruby had followed her older brother to school. A few days later the same issue arose. This time the teacher in the rural schoolhouse said that it would be OK for her to stay. So she stayed, and this led to her graduating from high school when she was 16 years old. After living on a farm all those early years, and after high school graduation she moved to Spokane, Washington and ironically her first job was in a creamery. Later she worked parking cars at a downtown company, and doing window displays in the larger downtown stores. During this time, she met the love of her life, her future husband, Harold Edward Hanson, ""Ole"" (they were married for 68 years). After marriage, Ole enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and a son was born. This led to her leaving the area she grew up in, and living in Utah, Arizona, California, Arizona again and finally Florida, all during WWII. She told many stories of traveling across the country to Florida during the war, with a less than one year old son. During this time she discovered that she liked to travel and see new places. In 1947 it was decided that they would return to the military. During the Korean War, Ole was recalled as a pilot, in the US Air Force. Ruby held several jobs as a window designer for companies in towns where they were stationed and also in the Post Exchanges. Over a period of years, they lived in Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, Maine, Washington (while Ole was on a year of duty in Greenland), Western Washington, Okinawa, Michigan, California (while Ole was in Vietnam), and California again as dad finished his military career. She made many lifelong friends throughout her military travels. While her son was in the Army, she visited Europe for a month and traveled throughout Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Denmark and Belgium. At an AFB in Washington she was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Commanding General, of the Air Defense Command, for her work with military families. While in Okinawa, she was able to travel to Japan, The Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Hawaii. In Okinawa she continued her work with military families in need. In California she worked as a Interior Decorator/Designer and helped to manage an antique store for several years. She enjoyed decorating and the antique shop work, and always kept her eyes open for bargains. While living in the far east she took several flower arraigning classes and enjoyed doing this as a hobby. An excellent tailor and seamstress making many of her own clothes throughout her life.She enjoyed her son Edward, his wife, Hallette and her granddaughter, Amy. Taking her Amy to the ocean to swim, boogie board, and read. She always lit up while spending time with her Amy and Amy's friends. She was an avid reader of non-fiction. Her personal library was well over 800 books, and she loved to go to the library and check out books. She continued to read and learn throughout her life. In addition she also had over a hundred cook books.When Ruby and Ole were young they loved music, dancing, and visiting friends. She always enjoyed a good conversation that made her laugh. Movies were another interest throughout her life. Ruby had an inquisitive mind and loved to learn new things. She was preceded in passing by her husband Ole, her parents Hugh and Anna and younger sister Arda.She is survived by her brother (Cecil 93), son (Edward), daughter-in-law (Hallette), granddaughter (Amy), brother-in-law (Bill), and several nieces, nephews and great and great-great nieces and nephews. The following is one of Ruby's favorite poems, by Robert Frost:The Road Not TakenTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth;Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claimBecause it was grassy and wanted wear,Though as for that the passing thereHad worn them really about the same,And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black.Oh, I marked the first for another day!Yet knowing how way leads on to wayI doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost

Tributes

Rubita Irene Hanson (Morrow)

February 9, 1923 - December 25, 2012