Ruth Sommerfeld

Ruth Drovdal Sommerfeld, 92, of Bozeman, completed a fulfilling life in her home at Aspen Pointe, on Friday, October 10, 2008, thanks to the wonderful support of Bozeman Deaconess Hospice. Born September 11, 1916, in Arnegard, ND, to Olaf and Anna (Stenehjem) Drovdal, Ruth was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, teacher and friend. She was raised and educated in Arnegard, ND, and dreamed of becoming a nurse. The Great Depression and the need for schoolteachers in rural western North Dakota changed her life. At age 18, Ruth moved with her ten-year old sister (Dorothy Anne) to a remote one-room school where she slept, cooked, and taught 5 students (including her sister). Ruth discovered she loved teaching and attended Mayville State College in North Dakota, where she graduated with a two-year teacher's standard certificate in 1937. While attending dances and church events at Mayville she met her future husband, Ed Sommerfeld. She loved to dance. After seven years of teaching in the states of North Dakota and Washington, and a long distance courtship, she married Ed on July 12, 1944, at Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard. Shortly after their marriage, Ed was transferred to the European theater to serve our country during WWII. While Ed was at war, Ruth returned to Washington to continue teaching school. In 1949, the family moved to Montana where Ed was a Superintendent of Schools in Bridger, Glendive and finally in Bozeman. During her first 16-years in Montana, Ruth was happily busy with her children's activities, scouting, sports, school functions, church and entertaining. She also finished her education through summer schools and received her BS in Education from Mayville in 1961. When Ed died in 1966, Ruth returned to teaching. She taught 4th grade at Longfellow Elementary School for the next 16 years, educating hundreds of Bozeman's current residents. In 1969, she earned her Masters in Education from MSU. After retirement in 1982, Ruth and her sister (Dorothy Anne Honeychurch) spent over 16 years involved with Elderhostel. In addition to being a resident coordinator for many Montana Elderhostels, Ruth's travels took her to over 50 Elderhostels, every continent, and every ocean in the world. During her retirement, Ruth was also active in numerous organizations, including: AAUW, Delta Kappa Gamma, Sons of Norway, Retired Teachers, PEO, AFS Adult Club, and Montana Council for International Visitors. Ruth also volunteered many hours at the Museum of the Rockies, the Bozeman Visitors Center, and the Bozeman Senior Center. Throughout her life, Ruth was an avid reader, bridge player, and cook. She loved to entertain and make Norwegian specialties, like lefse. Her fondness for the traditions of Norway and her affection for her father's home farm at Drovdal (north of Oslo) came from her trip there in 1939 and her numerous trips to Norway after her retirement. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ed, her brother Bud Drovdal and her sister Inez Boren. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Karen Sommerfeld of Winter Park, CO; daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Richard Nelson of Rockford, IL; son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Susan Sommerfeld of Billings, MT; grandchildren Erik, Glenn, Kristina, Patrick, Seth and Amber; great grandchildren Ella and Will; sisters, Helen (Kerm) Larson of Perham, MN and Dorothy Anne Honeychurch of Butte, MT; brother George (Jean) Stenehjem of Edina, MN; and special niece, Susan Stephens and her husband Mark of Bozeman and their children (Karli, Randi and Staci) who were like grandchildren to her, as well as numerous other nieces and nephews and their children. Ruth will be truly missed by all. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm, Saturday, October 25, 2008, at Hope Lutheran Church (off S. 19th Street) in Bozeman. Memorials may be made in her name to the Sommerfeld Teacher of Promise Scholarship at MSU-Bozeman, Dept. of EHHD, P.O. Box 172940, Bozeman, MT 59717 or to Bozeman Deaconess Hospice, 915 Highland Blvd, Bozeman, MT 59715.