Ruth was born to Theobald Beyl and Ella Koehler on December 29, 1929 in Golden Valley, ND and was raised in the East Fairview, ND area and learned to speak English at the age of 5 when she started the first grade of school, as German was the home language at the time. She loved her extended family. Her grandfather Friederich Beyl and his 5 children immigrated from Crimea-Russia in 1904 making them Germans from Russia. They eventually ended up in the Fairview area, with some of those siblings migrating and farming along the Yellowstone River to Billings.

Her high school education came to a stop when she married at the age of 16 and had her first baby a year later. She met her husband, Ervin Martin at an ice-skating party right after World War II.

She began a more formal education and enrolled in a high school course at UND and graduated 10 years after she married. She was excited that Nelson Rockefeller was the main speaker. She continued with several college courses over time and was just short a few hours of becoming a para-professional group counselor.

Ruth worked as an usher at the Orpheum Theater in Fairview. She also worked at the Super Value in Fairview and the Sidney Drug Store before she went to work as the office manager at the Peavey Company in Sidney where she retired.

Ruth’s passion was doing quilts for missions and continued doing this project until the end. She was an active member of St John’s Lutheran Church. She also loved to read. In the 1980’s she worked extensively on the genealogy of the Beyl Family, putting out a book and sharing this with family.

Ruth and Ervin enjoyed traveling in their retirement years. They visited their daughter and family in Germany. They spent several winters in Arizona, traveling in their motorhome. She also traveled to the Ukraine, searching for family history.

Ruth and Ervin married June 2, 1946 and farmed in the Dore community for over 70 years. Ervin passed away August 4, 1999 and Ruth remained on the farm until 2020.

Ruth is survived by daughter Debra (Werner Harris), Ocean Springs, MS. Sons Kennard (Diana), Chinook, MT, Monte of Fairview and foster daughter, Charlotte Payette, Fairview. Grandchildren: Brian Harris (Catherine), Biloxi, MS and Kevin Harris, Mobile, AL. Great Grandchildren: Steven Wade (Sarah), Pass Christian, MS, Ashley Harris & Aric Harris, Bowie, MD, Carissa (Stephen) Dunipace, Irvington, AL, Amber Harris, Ridgeland MS, Alyssa Noel Harris, Long Beach, MS, Cailyn (Brian) Mueller, Richlands, NC and Christopher Harris, Biloxi, MS. Great Great grandchildren: Ezra Sweeney, Abygail & Adaline Ella Wade, and Amelia, Luke & Noah Dunipace. Nephews: Gene Elletson, Deloyce and Michael Beyl, and nieces: Karen Bauer & Sue Treider, sister-in-law, Virginia Beyl.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Ervin, her parents, sister Lillian Elletson, brother Elmer Beyl and 2 baby siblings.