Ruth J. Saari

Ruth J. Saari, age 92 of West Branch, passed away Thursday, January 19, 2012 at Bortz Health Care in West Branch. Ruth married Elmer Saari in West Branch on October 26, 1940. He preceded her in death. During WWII, while Elmer was serving in the U.S. Navy, Ruth, in the fashion of “Rosie the Riveter” worked in the defense manufacturing industry in Detroit. In 1959, Ruth and Elmer moved from Detroit to West Branch. Ruth worked for Dr. Hugh Jardine M.D. and the State Savings Bank of West Branch. Ruth had been a resident at Bortz Health Care since 2006. Ruth is survived by her children, Linda (Scott) Clay of Grand Rapids, Norman (Terry) Saari of East Lansing and Dennis (JoAnne) Saari of Saginaw, her grandchildren, Nathaniel Clay of New York City, Cassandra (Dr. Eric) Slattery of St. Louis MO and Eric (Dr. Caroline) Saari of Winchester, VA and her great-grandchildren Rainer and Gwendolyn Slattery of St. Louis, MO. Visitation only will be held at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch on Monday, January 23, 2012 from 2-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Hospice Advantage. A private burial was held at Brookside Cemetery, West Branch.