Our Southern Belle, Sarah Ruth Scott Olsen, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on September 23, 2025, at the Cardston Hospital in Cardston, Alberta, surrounded by family. She was born on July 9, 1927, in Hampshire, Tennessee, to loving parents who instilled in her the values of hard work, kindness, and faith.
Ruth spent her childhood in Hampshire, where she grew up surrounded by family, community, and the rolling Tennessee hills. She shared those years with her sisters, with whom she formed bonds of love and loyalty that remained strong throughout her life. She had a lifelong passion for sports and was honored by her classmates as Best Female Athlete of 1945, a reflection of her energy, determination, and love of competition. These qualities of resilience and teamwork carried her through every stage of life.
As a young woman, Ruth devoted herself in service to the Lord by serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an experience that strengthened her faith and shaped her outlook on life. While visiting her cousin in Utah, she met Theran Olsen, who had become acquainted with her cousin while serving his own mission.
In 1955, Ruth and Theran were married, beginning a life of love and devotion together. They raised their family mainly in the Leavitt and Cardston area, with brief stints in Provo, Utah, and Del Bonita, Alberta.
Together they welcomed five children. Their eldest, Cindy, was born in Cardston, Alberta, followed by Scott, also born in Cardston. Their third child, Perry, was likewise born in Cardston. Their fourth, Ernie, was born in Provo, Utah, and their youngest, Clarke, was born in Taber, Alberta.
Her greatest joy was found in her children, for whom she had immense pride. She often remarked how grateful she was to hear others describe them as hardworking, trustworthy, and dependable people — qualities she knew in her heart they possessed, modeled after the example she and Theran set.
Ruth took deep pride in her family. She adored her grandchildren, filling her deep freeze with creamsicles and fudgesicles for their visits. Her garden, her warm welcome, and her ability to turn her home into a refuge made her house a place of comfort. Christmas Day dinners gathered generations under her roof, and nothing made Ruth happier than a room full of family and friends.
In retirement, Ruth was an avid reader who loved nature and long drives to Waterton with friends or grandchildren, often stopping in Mountain View for ice cream as part of the outing. These simple joys reflected her deep appreciation for beauty, togetherness, and life’s small delights.
Ruth’s life was defined by her compassion, her steady faith, and her devotion to family. She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and kindness that will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
She is survived by her children Cindy, Perry, Ernie, and Clarke, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son Scott, her parents, and her sisters.
Funeral services were held on September 27, 2025, in Cardston, Alberta, with interment in the Leavitt Cemetery.
We love our Southern Belle and will always fondly remember the love she gave us so that we can succor others as she has us.
Ruth spent her childhood in Hampshire, where she grew up surrounded by family, community, and the rolling Tennessee hills. She shared those years with her sisters, with whom she formed bonds of love and loyalty that remained strong throughout her life. She had a lifelong passion for sports and was honored by her classmates as Best Female Athlete of 1945, a reflection of her energy, determination, and love of competition. These qualities of resilience and teamwork carried her through every stage of life.
As a young woman, Ruth devoted herself in service to the Lord by serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an experience that strengthened her faith and shaped her outlook on life. While visiting her cousin in Utah, she met Theran Olsen, who had become acquainted with her cousin while serving his own mission.
In 1955, Ruth and Theran were married, beginning a life of love and devotion together. They raised their family mainly in the Leavitt and Cardston area, with brief stints in Provo, Utah, and Del Bonita, Alberta.
Together they welcomed five children. Their eldest, Cindy, was born in Cardston, Alberta, followed by Scott, also born in Cardston. Their third child, Perry, was likewise born in Cardston. Their fourth, Ernie, was born in Provo, Utah, and their youngest, Clarke, was born in Taber, Alberta.
Her greatest joy was found in her children, for whom she had immense pride. She often remarked how grateful she was to hear others describe them as hardworking, trustworthy, and dependable people — qualities she knew in her heart they possessed, modeled after the example she and Theran set.
Ruth took deep pride in her family. She adored her grandchildren, filling her deep freeze with creamsicles and fudgesicles for their visits. Her garden, her warm welcome, and her ability to turn her home into a refuge made her house a place of comfort. Christmas Day dinners gathered generations under her roof, and nothing made Ruth happier than a room full of family and friends.
In retirement, Ruth was an avid reader who loved nature and long drives to Waterton with friends or grandchildren, often stopping in Mountain View for ice cream as part of the outing. These simple joys reflected her deep appreciation for beauty, togetherness, and life’s small delights.
Ruth’s life was defined by her compassion, her steady faith, and her devotion to family. She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and kindness that will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
She is survived by her children Cindy, Perry, Ernie, and Clarke, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son Scott, her parents, and her sisters.
Funeral services were held on September 27, 2025, in Cardston, Alberta, with interment in the Leavitt Cemetery.
We love our Southern Belle and will always fondly remember the love she gave us so that we can succor others as she has us.