Ruby Pauline Lundquist Johnston

In loving memory of our little mother, Ruby Pauline; Mom was born on Valentine’s Day 1933 in Seattle, Wa to Elvira B. and J. Olof Lundquist and passed away in the arms of her children December 5th 2012. Ruby will be greatly missed by her husband Elmer M Johnston, her four children Karen, Rich, Michael and Jeananne, 10 grand-children, 2 great-grandchildren, brothers Tor, Bert, sister Jeannie and uncountable relatives and friends both near and far.

Ruby grew up in Ballard Washington and graduated Ballard High School class of 1951. In 1956, she was crowned as the first Lucia Bride of the Swedish Club and was honored as such by three of her grand-daughters at the 2011 Swedish Club Lucia 55 year celebration. Ruby loved her nursing career; She had many successes, of those she worked for prominent Seattle doctors, Dr. Fredrick Rutherford, Dr. Haaken Ragde and provided more than 5 years of personal intensive care to Arthur Jackson, brother of 3 term Washington State Senator, Henry “Scoop” Jackson. Being a committed democrat, she had strong values and opinions; all you had to do was ask her! Not the best card player, however she would beat you hands down at games such as…..checkers, spite and malice, scrabble, arm wrestling and any crossword puzzle. A very talented dancer, be it the schottis, the Hula, the jitter bug or just jamming with her kids, she could do them all and everyone wanted a dance with Ruby! You never knew what you might get from her, our Mother had many a talent and she was proud of them. She was a poet and a great storyteller, she could do a headstand until she was 70 and may have pulled a “fast one” on you had you not been paying attention.

Ruby taught her family to love the outdoors and was very involved in camping, traveling, fishing, hunting, hiking, beach combing, picking wild huckleberries, collecting fresh clams and going on the occasional bear run all of which she did while singing! We are proud that our mother was a fabulous cook. She could single handedly pull off a Thanksgiving dinner for 25 people and she could do it from a campfire, cook stove or open fire, she was that good!

Ruby’s children and grandchildren were the most important part of her life. She loved her family very deeply and unconditionally; she taught her children to love and take care of each other. Mom often reminded us that our brothers and sisters will forever be our best friends in life. She showed encouragement in times of sorrow and celebrated the family in times of success. Finally, Ruby could really laugh; she laughed until she snorted and then she laughed some more, sometimes she could barely see out of her eyes she laughed so hard! So let’s all remember her with a loving heart, a great big laugh and enjoy the party!

"I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD"

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed--and gazed--but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

- Wordsworth

“To laugh often and love much;

to win the respect of intelligent

persons and the affection of children;

to earn the approbation of honest critics

and to endure the betrayal of false friends;

to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;

to give of one’s self;

to leave the world a bit better,

whether by a healthy child, a garden patch,

or a redeemed social condition;

to have played and laughed with enthusiasm

and sung with exultation;

to know that even one life has

breathed easier because you have lived,

this is to have succeeded”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson