Ruth Thurn, 92, of Wishek, ND, died May 7, 2025, at the Wishek Living Center. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Wishek. Visitation will be held Monday, May 12, 2025, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Feist Funeral Home, Wishek.

Ruth was born, May 4, 1933, to Leopold and Pauline (Eckman) Meidinger in a 3-room house on the prairies of McIntosh County and raised on a farm 10 miles north of Zeeland, ND. She attended a rural school in the Strasburg District, graduating from the 8th grade. Ruth married the love of her life, Herman Thurn, on June 1, 1952, at St. Andrews Lutheran Church rural Zeeland, and farmed together on the Thurn family farm. Together, they raised 2 children, Mark (Karen) Thurn and Vicki (Keith) Hochhalter.

Ruth was a member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church while they lived on the farm. There she was a Sunday School Superintendent and served as treasurer. She was also active in the choir and WELCA. Ruth and Herman moved to Wishek in 1995, and she became a member at St. Luke Lutheran Church in 2000. She was a member of the choir, served as treasurer and co-president of the St. Luke WELCA, and was also very active in quilting.

Ruth and Herman enjoyed square dancing and were active members of the Diamond Squares. She loved to play pinochle, bridge, and other card games as well as dominoes and shared her love of games with her grandchildren.

Ruth is survived by her children, grandchildren, Jonathan (Anne) Thurn, Kalamazoo, MI, Zachary (Jess) Hanson-Thurn, Fargo, Jeremiah (Brittany) Thurn, Bismarck, Emily (Adam) Reznechek, Austin, TX, Benjamin Thurn, Grand Junction, CO, Martin (Julie) Hochhalter, Horace, Joseph (Melissa) Hochhalter, Steele, Adam Hochhalter, Clearwater, KS and Hope (Dale) Gasho, Beach; great grandchildren, Fredrick, Katherina, Adelaide and Margaret Thurn, Arlo Hanson-Thurn, Oliver, Henry and Maci Thurn, Blake Reznechek, Margaret and Harrison Hochhalter, Keiffer Ernst, and Mikayla and Preston Gasho. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Verna (Gary) Lockwood, Austin TX, James (Sharon) Meidinger, Wishek, MaryLou Cornella, Hawthorne, NV, Walter (Marge) Meidinger, Fargo, Ruby (Ron) Hartman, Fargo, Don Meidinger, Ft. Myers Beach, FL, Grace (Bill) Sufka, Andover, MN; brother-in-law, Larry Wald, Wishek; and sister-in-law, Julie Meidinger, Wamego, KS.

She was preceded in death by her husband Herman in 1999; parents; sisters Violet Kaseman and Linda Wald; brothers Victor and Gary as well as two infant brothers; brothers-in-law Elmer Kaseman and Del Cornella, and sister-in-law Janice Meidinger.

Memorials can be given to St. Andrews Lutheran Church Preservation Fund or St. Luke Lutheran Church.

Funeral Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p6ut3T8mzY