Ruth Marie Hickerson

TRAVERSE CITY - Ruth Marie Hickerson, 84, of Traverse City, passed away on Friday, July 18, 2014, at Munson Medical Center.

Ruth was born on Jan. 23, 1930, in Trout Creek the daughter of August and Arla (Ollila) Hautamaki. She was raised in the U.P. and graduated from Trout Creek High School in 1947.

After graduation Ruth moved to Detroit, where she was very involved with the Lutheran church and met her husband-to-be, Harlan Hickerson Jr. They married on Dec. 27, 1953, in Duluth, Minn.

Ruth was a stay-at-home mother until her children were teenagers; she then worked as a bookkeeper for Production Credit Association from 1972 to 1991.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Harlan Hickerson Jr; children, Nancy Weathers, Robert Hickerson and James Hickerson; grandchildren, David Rogers, Shawn (Jason) Crum, Heather Hickerson and John Harlan (Christina Nadeau) Hickerson II; great grandchildren, Michaela Rogers, Kaitlyn Rogers, Andrew Curtis, Aurora Crum, Zadyen Crum, Layla Hickerson and Lennon Hickerson; and great-great grandchild, Ariella Rogers.

Preceding Ruth in death were her parents, August and Arla Hautamaki; children, Carol Maki and John Hickerson; and siblings, Esther Hallberg and Richard Hautamaki.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014 at 2:30 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Trout Creek.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Please share your fond memories of Ruth at CovellFuneralHomes.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home in Traverse City.