Ruth Alice Ellwein Alling

Ruth Alice Alling passed away peacefully on the evening of May 3, 2026.

Ruth Ellwein was born in Otter Creek, North Dakota, April 28th, 1935. She grew up in Sidney, Montana, where she met the love of her life, Merrill Alling, during their senior year of high school. Their bond became a lifelong partnership filled with love, creativity, and shared purpose.

The couple later moved to Missoula, where Merrill pursued a degree in business and Ruth began her life as a wife, mother and homemaker.

Ruth had grown up with a deep and abiding faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was through Merrill’s love for Ruth led him to take his step of faith and begin his relationship with Christ. They ensured their children, Jeffrey, Timothy, Stephanie, Jennifer, and Sarah, were brought up in a Christian home actively participating in church wherever they lived.

Ruth adored being a mother, and, early on, they hosted unwed mothers for several years. She loved to sew and do needlepoint. She was an incredibly talented actress. After the children were grown, she performed in many plays for the Helena, MT community theater. Ruth had a deep love of gardening, especially roses, peonies, and clematis.

Ruth will always be remembered for her compassion, gentleness, beauty, humor, her gift for bringing people together, and her sense of humor. She loved games, hosting gatherings, and creating warm welcoming spaces filled with antiques and homemade baked goods (a specialty). She was a devoted and loving Mother who took great pride in her children and grandchildren, and was always ready to lend a helping hand. She was a cherished grandmother and great-grandmother to many.

She was active with several philanthropic organizations, including PEO, and time in the Montana Historical Society, including work restoring the original Governor’s Mansion.

Ruth and Merrill celebrated their Christian faith in communities wherever they lived, particularly in Trinity Lutheran (Kalispell, Sidney) and First Lutheran (Helena).

Ruth and Merrill, also, shared a passion for restoring 19th century homes, filling them with antiques, beauty, and cherished memories. This love eventually grew into an antiques business that they enjoyed well into retirement. Contract bridge was a passion of Ruth and Merrill, achieving Master level status.

Ruth lived with gratitude and joy in each day. One treasured memory shared by her family is how she would gently wake her children each morning singing, “Rise and Shine”, and her familiar phrase, “You can never have too many cake plates”.

Ruth is survived by her children: Jeffrey (Darla), Timothy (Jane), Jennifer (William) Charles, and Sarah: Six grandchildren: Christopher (Kim) Charles, Daniel, Kevin, Kristin, Danae Kissner, Shawn Self ; two great grandchildren: Aiden and Viola Charles. She is preceded in death by her husband Robert (Merrill), daughter Stephanie, and grandson Jason Charles.

The world is a better place because of Ruth, and her light will continue to shine in all who knew and loved her.

A celebration of life service will be held on May 16, 2026 at First Baptist Church of Meridianville at 11:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

First Baptist Church Meridianville-Children’s Building, 175 Monroe Rd, Meridianville, AL 35759 or Adult Day Care - Studio 60, 2200 Drake Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805

Hazel Green Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.