Ruby (Hansmann) Bouma

Ruby Jean Erma (Hansmann) Bouma, 84, of Conrad, passed away of natural causes on Monday, May 29, 2023 at Logan Health Extended Care in Conrad.  Her daughter, Charlene, and grandson, Colt, his wife Amber, and 6 of her great grandchildren were by her side.   Services will be held on September 9, 2023 at Conrad High School Auditorium at 2pm.

Ruby was born on June 5, 1938 to Albert and Anna Hansmann in Choteau.   Ruby was raised on the family farm/ranch near Pendroy with her three brother and three sisters.  Ruby attended 1st-8th grade at Pendroy and graduated high school from Choteau.  She attended Montana State University for one semester then transferred to Northern Montana College where she received her degree in education.   Havre was also where Ruby was able to continue her love of sports.  She was a member of the Northern MT track team competing in long distance events.   Ruby completed college a quarter early allowing her to teach in Havre until the end of the year.

Glen and Ruby were high school sweethearts.   Ruby worked for a family a few miles from where Glen grew up, and attended the same church.   Glen and Ruby were married on June 23, 1961 at the Christian Reformed Church in Conrad.

Ruby taught second grade in Conrad for 5 years, then taught in Brady for 23 years.   She continued to substitute teach grades K-12 for 56 years.   Ruby was also a co-owner of Fleece & Fibres LTD in Conrad.

Ruby farmed, ranched, and gardened next to her husband, Glen, for over 62 years.   She was passionate about community service through working, donating, and supporting the American Red Cross Blood Drives, Pondera County Food Pantry, collecting cans and recycling to support the 4-H council; Ronald McDonald House and Pondera Medical Center resident activity fund.  Ruby was a 4-H leader, supported FFA, Marais Fair horse barn project, shooting sports building project, and a teacher of knitting, and crocheting classes.

Ruby was a long-time member of the Women of the Moose, and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society.   Ruby was awarded the Un-Sung Hero Award, in 2010 Ruby and Glen were presented the Montana High School Association and US Bank’s Super Fan Award, in 2013 Ruby and Glen were elected Grand Marshalls of Whoop Up Trail Days.  Ruby and Glen cared for numerous elderly family/neighbors, checking on all of them daily and taking them food.

Ruby’s hobbies included collecting antiques such as red wing crocks, cookie jars, depression dishes, Shirley Temple items, beanie babies, knitting and crocheting slipper/wash cloths/sweaters/afghans, gardening and donating her extra vegetables and canned sauerkraut. You could always find Ruby next to her husband, Glen, driving tractor, combine but only once-she plugged it up, grain truck, fencing, and working the night shift during calving season.   Ruby not only loved education and her community but loved animals and farming just as much.

Ruby lived her life by example with good morals, values, honesty and integrity.   Ruby was truly selfless, donating her time, equipment, fertilizer and barley seed to neighbors in need.   Ruby and Glen farmed next to Bob and Chris Ostrom sharing equipment and labor to get the crops in.

Ruby will be forever remembered in our hearts for her compassion for others, humbleness, integrity, honesty, and her unique way of speaking her mind.   As Ruby often said, “It doesn’t matter if you are white, black, pink, or blue, or how much money you have, it’s about how much good you do for others”.  Ruby will be greatly missed and remembered with love by all that knew her.  She was truly one-of-a-kind.  Ruby wished four things from family and friends: honesty, integrity, selflessness, and to take care of our community.

Ruby is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Anna Hansmann; husband, Glen Bouma; grandson, Cody Wyatt Harris; great granddaughter, Alicia Harris; brother, Ambrose Hansmann and his son, Vernon Hansmann, and his wife, Theresa Hansmann; and brother-in law Mitch Guhl.

Survivors include her daughter, Charlene Bouma of Conrad; granddaughters, Jerrica (Joe) Harris Murnin of Miles City and Jayleen Harris of NY; grandson, Colt (Amber) Harris of Conrad; great-grandchildren, Cody, Hadley and Stetson, Riley, Jake, Alaina all of Conrad, and Luke and Cole Murnin of Miles City; brother, Roy (Debby) Hansmann of Helena; Richard (Emily) Hansmann of Pendroy their children, Wendy and Paul; her sisters, Edelane (Tony) Hansmann Verstraete of Conrad their children Delores and Shirley, Mabel (Ivan) Hansmann DeVries of Conrad their children, Brenda, Carmen and Jennifer, Mary Hansmann Guhl of Great Falls her sons, Mathew and Marty, along with numerous cousins and friends in the Conrad and Choteau areas.