Ruth Norma (Hagen) Flory died on June 5, 2025 at Autumn House of Williamsburg at the age of 101.

She was born to Marit and Julius Hagen on January 30, 1924, on the family dairy farm in Edgar, Wisconsin. Ruth had a 4-year-old sister Evelyn. Another sister, Mildred had died in 1923 at the age of 1 ½. When she was 3 years old, her brother Norman was born. In 1928, the family decided to move to Norway where Julius and Marit were born and still had family. Ruth celebrated her fifth birthday while they were in Norway. After a year, they decided their future was better in the United States, and they ended up in the Detroit area, living on Stansbury Street. Sister, Joyce, was born in 1929, and her brother, Arnold, joined the family in 1932.

After graduating from Cooley High School in 1943, Ruth went to work for the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company in Detroit. Many of the male employees had joined the armed forces during World War II allowing Ruth to become a mail car driver, delivering inter-company mail around the city to all the company locations. She enjoyed this job very much. While working at the gas company, she met John E. Flory and on October 26, 1946, they were married. They lived in a small home in Wayne and had a son, James and daughter, Susan. When John was called into the Air Force in 1950, they sold the house, and Ruth and her children moved into Herman Gardens for a couple of years. After John returned to MichCon, they bought a home in Southgate where they were joined by daughter Karen, and son, John. The family enjoyed many camping trips at Michigan State Parks near Caseville, Harrisville and Rogers City in a tent for many years, later in a small travel trailer. In 1965, they towed the camper through the UP out to Seattle, camping across the northwest US. There they visited family in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Going to the top of the new Space Needle and camping in Yellowstone were highlights of the trip.

When John retired in 1981, they moved to Higgins Lake. Many happy days were spent boating and swimming in the beautiful lake with their grandchildren. After enjoying that area for many years, they moved to a house near Chum's Corners. Sadly, Ruth lost John in 2009 and after staying alone in her home for a few years she decided to move into Hope Village Independent Living (now Autumn House of Williamsburg) in February of 2013. She lived there over 12 years and loved the treatment she received from the wonderful staff who treated her like family.

Ruth is survived by her son James (Linda McDonald) of Kalkaska, daughters Susan (Rod Willard) of Canon City, CO, and Karen (Carl Regalado) of The Villages, FL, and seven grandchildren, James Jr, Emily (Ryan Brewer), Bryan (Ashley Moeggenberg), Matthew, Hannah, John and Josh (Shelbie McNeil), her dear sister-in-law Joan Hagen, twenty-two great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. She also has many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband John, parents Julius and Marit, sisters Evelyn and Joyce, brothers Norman and Arnold, her son John and his wife Vicki (Kerr). There is Joy in heaven as they are all together to welcome Ruth.

A Graveside Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Autumn House of Williamsburg, MI.