It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Ruth Helen Nelson Holmberg at the age of 98 years, 4 months.

Ruth will be honoured with a military memorial service to be held Sunday, September 25th. For more information and so we can take count of attendees, please contact the family at 250-545-0911 or email rholmberg1924@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers a donation to your local SPCA would be greatly appreciated.

Ruth Helen Nelson Holmberg

Was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on April 11, 1924 and sadly, but peacefully, passed from this world in her Vernon, BC home, in her sleep, on Tuesday morning, August 16, 2022.

She lived over ninety-eight interesting years, leaving her memory and legacy to many people who loved and respected her.

Ruth was proud to be descended from “Good Scandinavian Stock” and would speak with pride of her grandparents who were instrumental in settling the Canadian West.

Due to the times she lived in she only got a grade eight education, but knew so much more than that can tell you.

On April 02, 1943, against the wishes of her mother, Ruth enlisted in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. She took her basic training in Vermillion, AB. Ruth served in Winnipeg until her Honorable Discharge on June 4, 1945. For her services she received The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and The War Medal 1939-45. She also received a lot of help from the DVA in her later years as a result of her service to Canada.

On January 29, 1945, she married Kermitte Stanley Holmberg and they had eight children. All of her children save, Caroline Deborah b. Oct. 26, 1957, who passed from a childhood disease Apr, 14, 1958, are alive today.

Her husband, Kermitte, deserted her and their seven children in Kitimat BC Aug. 1965.

She eventually got together with the love of her life, William Walker, in Winnipeg MB and they spent over 39 years having one adventure after another.

After Bill’s passing in 2017, Ruth’s own health started to decline. During her final years she spent many an hour telling stories from her past and reminiscing about all that she had seen and been through. She often said, “She survived flood, famine, fire and pretty much every other disaster, which brought her all of her strength and resilience.”

Ruth’s spirits were mostly up and positive until the end. She was thankful to have seen so much in her life. There were some things she would have changed but she realized that you can’t change the past, so you might as well hum a happy tune and get on with it. She had a simply amazing disposition and will be missed by so many.

Special thanks go out to all those who looked after her and loved her to the end, including the Good Morning Call ladies, the nurses who came to care for her and the care aides who helped out the family and her doctors. We truly are grateful for the gentle TLC they gave in her final years.