Memorial services for Ruth G. Spain, 91, of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Crossroads Church in Albert Lea. The Revs. Jeff Phelps and Marc Castro will officiate. Friends may visit with family one hour before the service at the church. Private interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery in Albert Lea.

Ruth passed away  at 8:55 a.m. Friday, July 14, in Sheltering Arms at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea.

She was born on July 20, 1925, to her parents Lee and Minnie Pearl (Wooten) Huff in Piedmont, South Carolina. After graduating from the Wesleyan Methodist College in Central, South Carolina, she went to Washington D.C. and worked in the Marriott (Hot Shoppes) restaurants. While there she met her future husband, Ted Spain, who was in the Navy and stationed at the Naval Research Laboratory. When the war ended, they married, but remained in Washington until he received his discharge in March of 1946. After separation from the service she and Ted returned to Hollandale and farmed, growing potatoes and onions.

Ruth was a member of the Conservation Congregational Church of Hollandale, where she taught Sunday school, Release Time Bible Classes, daily Vacation Bible School, was active in the Ladies Aide and was an instructional aide at the local school. She was active in the Parent Teacher Association, Youth for Christ, Civic Music, Home Extension, Christian Women’s Club and Naeve Partners in Health. She also did school census.

In 1988, she and her husband moved to Albert Lea and became charter members of Crossroads Evangelical Free Church.

She had a great sense of humor and will be remembered for her quick, witty responses to comments

She loved children, especially playing with babies. In their retirement, Ruth and Ted loved to travel in their fifth-wheel trailer six months out of the year for 13 years and in every state in the union. They seldom stayed at one place more than two to three weeks, but moved on to something new and different. They also enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Alaska and Israel.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Ted; daughter, Sheila Dawn (Goodwin) Spain, of Portland, Oregon; and son, Galen Mark (Elaine) Spain of Otisco,; grandchildren Dawn Jodell (Richard) Gonzales of Portland, Douglas William (Jill) Goodwin of Portland, Benjamin Mark (Stacey) Spain of Woodbury, Sarah Beth (Jim) Olson of Willow Lake, South Dakota, and Daniel Jacob (Kristen) Spain of St. Peter; great grandchildren Elias, Grayce, Izzy, Annika, Isaiah, Hannah, Corbin, Athena and Marisa; one great-great-granddaughter, Harper. One brother survives, Kenneth (Mary Nann) Huff of Simpsonville, South Carolina; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sisters Vivian and Olivia; brother, Norman; stepsisters Blanche and Viola; and stepbrother, Ralph.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Sheltering Arms, St. John’s for their loving care of Ruth.

Memorials to Youth for Christ or charity of the donor’s choice.