Ruth A. Ployhar

Ruth Ann Ployhar died on January 24, 2015, at Eventide in Moorhead following complications resulting from a stroke on December 28, 2014. She was 87.

Ruth was born on June 5, 1927, in Timnath, Colorado, to parents Charles W. and Frances (Dawley) McLain. She spent most of her childhood years in Hesperus and Durango, Colorado. In 1943, her family moved to Valley City, North Dakota, where her father served as the Commanding Officer of the World War II V-12 Navy Unit and she attended high school. Her family later returned to Durango, where her father taught at Fort Lewis A&M. She married her high school sweetheart, James D. Ployhar, at the First United Methodist Church of Durango on August 22, 1948. She graduated from Valley City State University with a degree in Business in 1949. The Ployhars moved to Greeley, Colorado, and later to Lakota and Fargo, where James began his music teaching career and went onto become a composer and music educator.

Ruth was a devoted mother to her five children. She instilled in them an appreciation of art, music, and a curiosity of the world at-large. Ruth was a talented musician, accomplished on piano, violin, and timpani. She taught piano lessons to all her children. She possessed “perfect pitch.” She loved to sing and was a member of the Olivet Lutheran Church Choir for many years. She also taught Sunday School and played in the Olivet Handbell Choir. Aside from her children, her greatest joy was to support and encourage her husband of 59 years in his musical endeavors.
Ruth enjoyed reading, needlepoint, jigsaw puzzles, genealogy, Anasazi artifacts, antique dolls, and plant identification. She was a lifelong member of PEO. She loved camping and hiking—especially in Grand Teton National Park—and traveling by cruise ship. She shared many wonderful traveling adventures with her family. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with Jim and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Ruth is survived by her son, Steve (Maria) of Pierrevert, France; her daughter, Carol (Paul) Houglum of Perley, Minnesota; her daughter, Deborah (Larry) Harris of Iliff, Colorado; her daughter, Jane Fields of Fort Collins, Colorado; her son, Douglas (Peggy) of Conroe, Texas; and her sister, Peggy Fearing. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Sarah (Jeremy) Baumgarten; Michael (Lauren) Houglum; Laura (Justin) Grinde; Katie (Jason) Fletcher; Taylor (Sarah Vetter) Fields; Cory (Caity) Fields; Amanda Fields; Thomas, Timothy and Maggie Ployhar; Michael Ployhar and seven great-grandchildren: Brett, Brady, Abby, Finley, Mace, Claire and Dylan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James, and her sister, Katharine Bergfield.

Memorials may be sent to the James D. Ployhar Music Collection, c/o Department of Music 101 College Street SW, Valley City, ND 58072 or Olivet Lutheran Church.