BARBARA JEAN RUTH

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BARBARA JEAN RUTH Born into a Ukrainian family on March 8, 1943, Barbara Jean Ruth walked her own path. Originally born Husak, she legally changed her name to Ruth identifying strongly with the Biblical story of an Independent Woman. She blazed a trail as a feminist before feminism was an Ism. She was an unconventional woman and an untraditional feminist. Baton Twirling Champion of Manitoba, she excelled at ice skating and proudly became a Blue Bomberette, despite being Two legged, Toe legged, Bo legged Barbara. Working as a cocktail waitress in Winnipeg's short-lived Playboy Bunny club-she was likely the only bunny there whose heart belonged to Jesus. This ruined her chances for Playboy bunny stardom. In the late sixties she was the first female manager of Sony Magnasonic, in fact she was the only female manager of any incorporated business in Western Canada. Even though her career was in sales, she passionately believed in people not profit. After relocating to Saskatoon in the seventies, she married her second husband the father of her two children, Kristy and David. Thereafter facing bravely the death of her son David who had down syndrome, she did not wallow in sadness. Instead she embraced life as best she could. During this sad time in Saskatoon she opened her home to inner-city kids, ran for mayor and upon returning to Winnipeg began her own cable TV show. While enduring her own grief she instilled in her beloved daughter Kristine compassion for the less fortunate, an independent spirit, a wild sense of humour and the virtues of fabulous lipstick and well manicured nails. Her life was not easy but poverty and helplessness never got the better of her. She will be dearly missed by her loving daughter Kristine Nutting, her dear friend Enid Finnbogason, Mother Anna and siblings Ceace, Vic, Joyce, Rita and their families. A celebration of Barb's life will be held at Neil Bardal Inc., 984 Portage Avenue, Aubrey Street entrance, Saturday, April 22 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers donations would be greatly appreciated for The Barbara Jean Ruth Scholarship Fund, send donations to: 9837 - 103rd St. Edmonton, AB T5K 0X9. Held for maturation over five years, the fund will assist struggling Independent artists. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 20, 2006