Ruth Verrette

Ruth Verrette IRON MOUNTAIN - Ruth B. Verrette, 88, of 602 East F St., Iron Mountain, died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002, at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain. She was born March 12, 1914, in Marquette, daughter of the late William and Esther (Carlson) Bystrom. Mrs. Verrette was a 1931 graduate of Marquette Graeveret High School. She continued her education and graduated in 1935 with a bachelor of science degree in education from Northern Michigan Teachers College. Ruth Verrette taught school in Alpena and Central Lake Michigan for three years. On Jan. 15, 1937, she married Louis C. Verrette in Marquette. They moved to Iron Mountain and resided here until Jan. 7, 1942, when they relocated during World War II to Fort Belvoir, Va. They returned to Iron Mountain in 1946. She and Louis co-founded Champion Inc., where she worked in various positions, including vice president of administration from which she retired in 1972. Mrs. Verrette continued her involvement with the company serving as a member of the board of directors until 1996, and as the editor of the company newsletter for more than 40 years. Ruth Verrette was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Iron Mountain, a member of the Chippewa Club, and a member of the Pine Grove Country Club, where as an avid golfer she scored two holes in one. She was a charter member of the Tuesday Study Club and the Zonta Club. Ruth Verrette served as president of the Iron Mountain Washington Elementary School PTA, taught home nursing in Iron Mountain and taught English as a second language for the Martin Co. Florida Council on Literacy from 1986 to 1994. Mrs. Verrette was an accomplished painter in oil and water color and enjoyed painting the wild waters of Lake Superior. She loved her gardens. She enjoyed traveling and together with her beloved husband traveled extensively throughout the world. Mrs. Verrette was preceded in death by her husband, Louis on June 6, 1996, and by her brother, Orville Bystrom. She is survived by her son, William C. (Wilma) Verrette of Iron Mountain; her daughter, Julie A. Verrette of Florence, Wis.; a sister, Helen (Emmett) Johnson of Iron Mountain, and seven grandchildren, Thomas (Nicole) Verrette of Iron Mountain, Stephen (Beth) Verrette of Iron Mountain, Cynthia (Jack) Rusch of Sun Prairie, Wis., Paula Verrette of Aurora, Elisabeth Cade-Pape of Madison, Wis., Timothy (Shanna) Cade of Spread Eagle, Wis., and Michael Cade of Portland, Ore. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Annica, Levi, Lexi, Camden and Simon, along with many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain. The funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Rev. Peter Jonas, pastor of First Lutheran Church of Iron Mountain, will officiate. Burial will be in Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain. Pallbearers will be Tim Cade, Mike Cade, Steve Verrette, Jack Rusch, David Johnson, Peter Johnson, Mike Johnson and Rick Conn. A memorial will be established in her memory at First Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain.

Ruth Verrette

October 22, 2002