Ruth Anne Holter

Ruth Anne Holter December 19, 1931 - May 2, 2025
Ruth Anne (Youngstrom) Holter was born on December 19th,1931 in Stickney South Dakota to Glenn and Gladys Youngstrom. She attended Mount Vernon High School where she met and later married her high school sweetheart Raymond A. Holter. They were blessed with 5 children: Susan (Joe) Hubbard of Bremerton, WA, Julie (Reggie) Corley of Houston, TX, Patricia Holter, who died in 1959 from a car accident, Jeffrey (Joan) Holter of Proctor, MN and Glenda Holter of Grand Rapids, MN. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren - Joe T Hubbard, Samuel Hubbard, and her only granddaughter, Kyla RuthAnne Hubbard; Travis (Stacy) Johnson, Michael (Aaryn) Goos, Luke Johnson, Christopher (Renata) Goos, and Jordan Goos; Kyle Holter, Joshua Holter, Erik (Emily) Holter, and Matthew Holter plus 17 great grandchildren.
Ruth was the consummate partner and family CEO. Constantly by her Pastor/missionary husband's side, she not only tended to her own children but was instrumental in caring for numerous youth, many of whom still refer to her as "mae" (mother). Ray and Ruth's first years in ministry were spent serving in Brazil in the Passo Fundo, Cruz Alta and Rio Negro/Mafra parishes. She was the organizing force behind many youth retreats... preparing meals, presenting Bible Study and counseling around the wood cook stove. The time spent in their beloved Brazil impacted all their children's lives, serving as a plumbline for faith.
Upon returning to the U.S., they served 2 congregations in Northern Minnesota: Beltrami, MN and Floodwood, MN. Their missionary spirit carried them into service as owners of Swan Lake Campground in Pengilly, MN where they welcomed travelers of many walks of life. Ruth was fond of engaging in people's lives wherever she found herself. After retirement, they settled on the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids, MN. From the Atlantic Ocean, to Swan Lake, to their home on the Mississippi River, Ruth was most at home on the water!
As they made their move to Houston, Texas to be close to their daughter and son-in-law, life still had one more challenge - major physical health needs. This too was an opportunity Ruth used as a ministry of witnessing for Jesus to the staff who cared for her. They were able to see her sense of humor and quick wit.
Each of these transitions in life helped magnify the incredible 75 years they shared together.
If everything could be written on how she impacted people's lives, it could not be contained here. Ruth's love for people might best be summed up by what was shared when her Brazilian friends heard of her passing: "...she worked hard and taught well all who knew her... Thanks be to God that we could learn so much... She was wise, loving, resilient, attentive, minimalistic, faithful, diligent, obedient and many other adjectives that I don't even know. Great woman, great example."
Please join us as we gather to remember, reflect, and celebrate a life that touched so many. A Celebration of Life service will take place Saturday, May 10, 2025, 11:00 am at St. Timothy Lutheran Church located on 14225 Hargrave Rd. Houston, TX 77070.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth Holter's memory to:
St Timothy Lutheran Church at STLHouston.org/give OR mail to: St Timothy Lutheran Church 14225 Hargrave Rd. Houston, TX 77070