RUTH A. DICKEY

ORONO – Ruth A. Thorsheim Dickey, 100, died peacefully Nov. 26, 2008, at an Orono health care facility. She was born July 13, 1908, in Marshalltown, Iowa, daughter of Rasmus and Anna (Hyland) Thorsheim. Ruth graduated from Radcliffe High School, Radcliffe, Iowa, in 1925. She taught school in the local one-room schoolhouse for one year, then went on to school at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa, to become a registered nurse. Later she went to Cook County Hospital, Chicago, for training in operating room procedures. Ruth had many wonderful stories about her nursing career. She married Howard, Aug. 26, 1939. Together they traveled to all 50 states in the USA and many countries, especially Norway. Ruth was an active member of Orono United Methodist Church and attended weekly services until her death. She was known for the caring hospitality of welcoming people to the church. She was a great family person. In addition, she was an active member of the Thursday Club, Orono Garden Club, United Methodist Women, Sons of Norway, Maine Nordmenn and recipient of the Orono Boston Post Cane. Get-togethers were very important to her as she kept daily contact with her family and was always ready to give updates of the latest happenings. She loved cooking, gardening, sewing, embroidering and nurturing her children. She was proud of her Norwegian heritage. She will always be remembered as the “Energizer Bunny,” since she attended every function possible during her stay at Dirigo Pines. She is survived by two sons, David Howard Dickey and wife, Nancy, of Melbourne, Fla., and Alan Lee Dickey and companion, Elizabeth Wells, of Old Town; two daughters, Dorothy Ann Selleck and husband, David, of Topsham and Janet Ruth Morgan and companion, John Cavanaugh, of Old Town; grandchildren, Karen Thomas and husband, Michael, of Milford, Conn., Deborah Leland and husband, Mark, Rhonda Foster and Timothy, Valerie King and husband, Scott, Warren A. Morgan and wife, Nichole, all of Old Town, David Selleck Jr., and good friend, Helen Meehan, of Portland, Stephen Selleck of Portland, and Diane Tarr and husband, James, of Gilford, N.H.; great-grandchildren, Mark Rogers, Tammy Leland, Kristie Foster, Matthew Foster, Jenna King, Ali King, Amber Morgan, Sophia Morgan, Kayleah Davis, Sarina Selleck, Issac Selleck, Kathryn Tarr and Jennifer Tarr; great-great-grandchildren, Emily Leland, Chloe Leland and Noah Grant; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Howard Chester Dickey in 2004; four brothers, Joseph, Iver, Henry and Elmer Thorsheim; two sisters, Anna Serina Hegland and Alma Hougan; and great-granddaughter, Emily Rae King. Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at Orono United Methodist Church, 36 Oak St., Orono, with the Rev. David Grainger, pastor, officiating. Friends may call 2 p.m. until the time of the service Sunday in the All Saints Room at the church. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at Dirigo Pines, in the main dining room, after the service. Interment will be at Lawndale Cemetery, Old Town. Those who wish to remember Ruth in a special way may make gifts to Orono United Methodist Church, 36 Oak St., Orono, ME 04473. A service of Brookings-Smith, LaBeau Chapel, 72 Main St., Orono. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.