Julia "Ruth" Eastling

Julia Ruth (Page) Eastling, 77, passed away Thursday, September 25, 2025 in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 3 with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church of Bemidji in Bemidji, MN with Pastor Eric Nygren officiating.

Ruth was born on October 19, 1947 to Robert and Helen Page in Bemidji, MN. She was the youngest of 4 siblings and grew up in a loving, service focused home that pointed her to Christ at a young age.

While attending Oak Hills Bible College in 1967, she met the love of her life, Tom. They married in January of 1969 and moved to Minneapolis so that she could complete her schooling for nursing that year. In August of 1970 they welcomed their daughter Becky followed in January of 1973 with their son, Brian.

While living in Indiana in the mid 70's Tom had major back surgery and later Ruth underwent treatment for breast cancer. These two events were big factors in influencing Tom and Ruth to follow God's leading and pursue missionary service with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Before they retired in 2016 they faithfully served at the JAARS center in Waxhaw, North Carolina and later in Minnesota. In the late 90's they were privileged to enjoy a reverse furlough in Africa getting to visit many of the Wycliffe members who served there to learn how JAARS could serve them better. They were thrilled when God fulfilled a life-long dream to return to Bemidji when they retired and blessed to have Brian and his family living nearby.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents (Robert & Helen Page) and her brothers Jim Page and John Page and her sister-in-law Pat Page. She is survived by her daughter Becky Ruth, of Waxhaw, NC, and son, Brian (Becky Jean) and grandchildren Teddy (Rose), Chris, Rachel (fiancé Sam), and Ben Eastling and honorary grandchildren Max & Ashley Cheney and honorary great-child Gwendolyn Cheney all of Bemidji as well as her sister Sarah Page Friesen (Vernon) of Tahlequah, OK and sister-in-law Barb Page of Longmont, CO.

Memorial gifts can be given to Camp Oak Hills at www.campoakhills.org.