RUTH SASSER

HELENA, Mont. – Ruth Sasser, beloved mother, sister, aunt and friend, died unexpectedly at her home in Helena, Mont., Feb. 13, 2004. Ruth Irene Sasser was born Sept. 30, 1956, on a U.S. Army base in Germany. She spent her childhood attending public schools in Texas and Massachusetts. Ruth chose nursing as her life’s work, graduating from the Central Maine General Hospital School of Nursing in 1977. Ruth was extremely proud to be the third of four generations of women in her family to dedicate their lives to the caring of others through nursing. Her compassion, humor and gentle touch made a difference in the lives of hundreds of patients in and around Bangor, where she practiced from 1977 to 1989. In 1989, Ruth and her daughter, Sarah, moved west to Helena, where she continued her career in nursing. As a hospice nurse for St. Peters Hospital, she was a fierce advocate for patient’s rights and the care of the terminally ill, putting her patients’ care ahead of her own career. As a member of the “Hospice Six,” Ruth challenged medical establishment to provide essential care to her patients. After a protracted legal battle, in which much of the community rallied to her support, Ruth remained dedicated to patient and senior care, most recently as an RN case manager with the Agency on Aging. Her dedication to improving the lives of others was not limited to her professional life. Ruth was also very active in Helena’s civic affairs, running for the state legislature in 1998 as well as serving as a member of the Helena Citizens’ Commission. Ruth tirelessly gave of her time volunteering in a variety of community and social justice projects. Besides her dedication to health care and the community, Ruth was also engaged in a variety of interests and hobbies. She loved fixing up her Victorian home, gardening, cooking, reading and caring for her pets. Above all else, Ruth took deep pride in her role as a mother and a member of her circle of family and loved ones. Though sometimes separated by many miles, Ruth always remained firmly connected. Ruth was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Alice Sasser, as well as her nephew, Justin Sasser. She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Sasser of Vancouver, Wash.; her sister, Katie Sasser, and her husband, Roger Buck, of Portland; her brother, Berney Sasser, and his wife, Lucy, of North Grosvenordale, Conn.; her devoted friend, Tom Kimmell of Helena; four nieces and nephews, and an abundance of friends. Ruth’s compassion and caring smile invited the confidence and trust of all who knew her. A memorial celebration of Ruth’s life and good works will take place in Helena.