Ruby Doris (Lanning) Erwin

Ruby Erwin, a long time resident of Shelby, died February 28, 2016 at Kindred Park Place in Great Falls from causes incident to age. She was 103.

Visitation will be from 12:00 noon to 12:45 pm on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby.  Graveside service will be 1:00 PM on Wednesday, March 2 at Mountain View Cemetery in Shelby next to her husband, Orval Erwin, and her brother, Merlyn Lanning.

Ruby Doris Lanning Erwin was born in Milnor, North Dakota on October 29, 1912, the fifth of eight children to Walter and Mattie Lanning. After graduating from high school in Oakes, North Dakota, she moved to Charlo, Montana to help her older sister raise her children. There she met and married Orval Erwin in 1938. In 1948, three months after their son, James, was born, they moved to Shelby, Montana where Orval established the Soil Conservation Service office as part of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

Ruby and Orval lived in Shelby for 55 years. Ruby worked several years at the Coast to Coast hardware store (now True Value), and later at the Cinderella Dress Shoppe. She was active in Eastern Star, Rainbow Girls, and was a member of the Methodist Church.

In retirement, Ruby and Orval took up golfing and did a lot of traveling around the country. They moved from Shelby to Great Falls in 2003, where Orval died the following year.

At 103, Ruby outlived all of her siblings. She is survived by her son James of Salt Lake City, two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and some nieces and nephews.