Ruth Sutherlin

Those bright blue eyes that twinkled when she smiled closed for the last time on August 4, 2024─two short months from her 95th birthday.

Ruth was born on September 20, 1929, in Portales, NM, to Seward and Nellie Haga. The family moved to Bayfield, CO, in 1946 with her siblings Ruby, Faye, Melvin, Jack and Jerry. Jerry Haga from Bayfield, CO is the only surviving sibling. Ruth enjoyed school and was one of the first cheerleaders at Bayfield High School. After high school she studied bookkeeping at a junior college in Albuquerque, NM.

On November 17, 1950, she married James Milton Sutherlin in Farmington, NM. They started their family and had 3 children (Kenny, Doug and Deb). They bought their first and only home, in Durango, CO—a home where Ruth was able to stay until the last three months of her life.

Ruth loved her family fiercely and supported them throughout the years. She was involved in her children’s education and volunteered as a Room Mother, President of PTA, and Boy Scout Den Leader. She also taught Sunday School for over 25 years.

She had many passions, but family always came first. Ruth was the supporter of many family adventures: snow skiing, water skiing, camping, snowmobiling, even drag racing. She was on the sidelines with a smile, cheering her children and husband on till the next adventure surfaced.

Once Kenny, Doug and Deb were out of the house, Ruth started painting and creating masterpieces that she shared with family. She loved to garden and spent many hours in her beloved yard. She enjoyed sewing and creating her own patterns for her first granddaughter. If you were lucky, you were the recipient of one of her beautiful homemade cards to congratulate you on your birthday or anniversary, to send get-well wishes, or just to say “hi.”

Many hours were spent reading and going through photos. Ruth was the “Family Historian” and created many photo albums with typed stories to accompany each book.

She did bookkeeping for decades and had an incredible work ethic, which she passed down to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In the spring she asked her son Doug and his wife if they knew anyone who would hire an 80-year-old woman. She said her money wasn’t going to last forever. They explained to her that she wasn’t 80, she was 94, but they would keep their ears open if they heard of any openings that would suit her.

Ruth was a devoted wife and caregiver to her husband for eight years, until he passed in 1997. She was also predeceased by her grandson Jerimy Scott Sutherlin.

Ruth is survived by son Kenny and wife Debbie Sutherlin (Durango), son Doug and wife Wanda Sutherlin (Durango) and daughter Deb Fredericks (Peterborough, NH); granddaughter Brandi and husband Clinton Womack (La Porte, TX), grandson James Sutherlin (Tucson, AZ), grandson Travis Sutherlin and wife Pam (Aztec, NM), grandson Jerry Sutherlin (Bayfield, CO), grandson Kevin Sutherlin and wife Kelly (Bayfield, CO), granddaughter Lyndsay and husband Nate Hart (Bonners Ferry, ID), grandson Nolan Fredericks and wife Jen (East Falmouth, MA) and 15 great grandchildren.

Private burial will be at Crestview Cemetery. A family memorial service will take place at a later date.