Ruth Hohl Quessenberry (1894-1978) Obituary and Memorial

Life story

Ruth was born to George Hohl and Olena Holmes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. George was born in Germany in 1862 and arrived in Minnesota in 1890. Olena, called Lena, was born in Norway in 1861 and arrived in Minneapolis in 1875, Ruth had a brother, Elmer Hohl, born when Ruth was 3 years old. Unfortunately, Lena died in December of 1898 from pulmonary tuberculosis. Ruth was 5, and Elmer was 2. Their father couldn't care for them, and both children were placed in the Bethany Home.

One year later, both children were sent to the infamous Owatonna Foundling Home, aka The Minnesota State Public School. Ruth suffered both physical and emotional abuse at the home, and was fortunate to not die in their care as many other children did. It left Ruth scarred for life. She was placed in a series of cruel and abusive foster homes, finally being taken in by the kind and generous Gustine family. Levi S. Gustine and Jennie L. Gustine (nee Burch) provided her with clothing, food, and treated her as a daughter until Ruth was about 19 years old.

On August 10, 1914, Ruth married Redmond Cunningham Douglass in Montana. Nicknamed Red, he was born in Wisconsin, and was working on the railroad in Montana. In 1915 she gave birth to their son, Donald Dimock Douglass; in 1916 Ruth gave birth to their daughter, Leona Irene Douglass. They lived in Bozeman and Three Forks, Montana and in 1918 moved to Seattle, WA. By 1920 they were back in Montana in Musselshell. At that point, Red and Ruth divorced, realizing the marriage wasn't working.

Ruth moved to southern California, and worked various jobs as a waitress. That was how she met the love of her life, Benton Clay Quessenberry. In 1930, they are listed as husband and wife in the census. Ben was born in 1980 in Floyd County, Virginia. He drove cattle during the era of the open range from Virginia down into Mexico. By the time they were together, he had a cattle ranch in Imperial Valley which was a thriving community at the time.

In 1932, Ruth gave birth to their daughter, Virginia Dawn Quessenberry in Imperial, California. But the depression and hard times fell on the cattle industry, and in 1935 they relocated to Manteca, California. Ben worked on various farms, and Ruth (who was a wonderful cook) opened a very successful business, Home Bakery, which she operated out of her home.

They moved to Lodi, California and worked on the family farms until WWII. Then they moved to Stockton, California and Ben went to work in the shipyards. Ruth re-opened her Home Bakery. After the war, Ruth went to work for Linden Unified School District, as the head of food services. It was a time when each of the schools had a fully functioning kitchen and cooks preparing lunches for school children. She loved working there.

Eventually Ben took work as a gardener for various well-to-do families, and Ruth worked as a waitress for the banquets at the Stockton Country Club. Ben passed away in 1963, leaving Ruth feeling very much alone. Eventually, Ruth became active in the Rebekahs, the female component of the Odd Fellows. She was also active with the Philomathean Club. Ruth also was part of a group of widows who met each week for lunch and a game of Canasta.

Ruth was always a marvelous seamstress who never needed a pattern. She sewed everyday clothing, wool jackets and blazers, formal gowns, and even slips and nightgowns - her old Singer sewing machine with the foot pedal saw thousands of garments come to life with her skill.

In 1971, Ruth developed tuberculosis, and was sent to Brett Harte Tuberculosis Sanitorium to recover. She was there for several months before she was strong enough to return home. (In 2002, this structure burned to the ground.)

Ruth was a spectacular cook who canned, made pies, and delicious main meals. She had a ringer washing machine and clothesline for drying clothes until her death, and was active in taking care of her garden. She loved animals, making the dinners herself for her two dogs, Jiggs and Hambone - both adorable mutts who lived to be 19 and 20 years old. When they were gone, she was gifted two cats who she adored.

Ruth took great pride in her two grandchildren, particularly Shane. Both her daughter, Virginia, and granddaughter, Shane, were with her when she passed from heart failure at the age of 84 in 1978. She was a marvelous storyteller, and left an very large empty place when she passed from this world. May her spirit rest in peace.

Photos

See all 14