We Remember

MORRISON, Ruth
December 20, 1929 — April 12, 2022
Ruth Morrison went home to be with the Lord on April 12, 2022, at the age of 92. After 68 years of marriage, she was predeceased by the love of her life, Gerald, in 2018; during the few years that she spent on earth without him, she continued to love him dearly. She is survived by her children Karen (Fred), Robert (Kim), Kathy (Don), Lori (Ian), and Michael (Tanya); grandchildren Ryan, Lana, Christian, Blair, Haley, Ivory, Sheena, Blake, Brandon, Loree, Sydney, Cameron, Nic, Ben, Gabi, Charli, Quynn, and Seve; great-grandchildren Owen, Emma, Elise, Anna, Arlen, Levi, Anthony, Elsie, and Freddy. Ruth will also be missed by her siblings Lillian Anderson and Rolf Andresen, as well as by her great extended family.
Ruth was born in Argentina into a large, beautiful Norwegian missionary family. During Bible college, in Toronto, ON, Canada, she met and married Gerald. Ruth and Gerald served the majority of their adult lives as missionaries in Africa, with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. While there, they helped to share the Gospel, while they raised their 5 children. However, before Africa it was in the Okanagan Valley that they started their married life and ministry, it was a dream of theirs to return. That dream was realized when they semi-retired (they still continued with short mission trips to Africa as well as Russia). During the last few years of their lives, they lived in the Village of Smith Creek, a care home in West Kelowna, BC. They were cared for by an amazing staff and had frequent visits from family near and far. Ruth was surrounded by loving family and staff members as the angels took her beautiful spirit to join Gerald in glory.
A Funeral Service will be held on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022, AT 1:00 PM AT SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC, with a reception to follow. If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service (see below), a recording will be made available to view shortly thereafter.
There will be a private family Graveside Service on Thursday, April 21, 2022, where Ruth will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Gerald.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kelowna Gospel Mission.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
LIVESTREAM:
Service
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022, AT 1:00 PM
Location
Springfield Funeral Home Chapel
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Service Details
The service for MORRISON, Ruth is scheduled for WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022, AT 1:00 PM. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
So Sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing Michael. We know you will miss her. Pray for you and your family that you will feel God’s comfort and peace. Love Art & Barb Corbett
How Doug and I loved Ruth, and Gerald, too. They were so welcoming and caring when we served with them in Nairobi. Their ministry gifts were obvious and appreciated – hospitality, humble service, speaking a Dm preaching, organization. Our children called them Grandma and Grandpa Morrison. Both Ruth and Gerald inspired us to serve as best we could; their love for Africa was contagious! Praise the Lord for these dear saints. May they both find reward and rest with the Lord.
Dear Michael and family ,
We are so saddened and shocked when we learned about
Mom’s death. It’s heart breaking and terrible shocking bad news!
MoM was so kind, humble, sharing, compassionate, supportive person during her entire life.
She was loving, caring, encouraging, and ever supporting, and women.
Her mother hood attitude and contribution to all creatures was amazing losing Mom and missing her forever wouldn’t be easy at all .
She served God through her lifetime and supported and encouraged so many people to know God reach out their highest destination not only on earth but in kingdom of God.
There is nothing ashamed of her death but we celebrate her legacy and all good work
She has done during her lifetime.
May comfort and strengthen all children and grandchildren including relatives & friends whom she left behind.
We love her forever!
May her soul Rest In Peace with deepest sorrow and sympathy
Tarikua, Bemenet& kassa
Today, we honour the life and ministry of Ruth Morrison. She was a gracious, loving, caring woman of God. My parents, Bill, and Lillian Cornelius were missionaries in Kenya, so I knew the Morrison family growing up. We always had lots of fun together.
When Cindy and I (and Jared aged 4) went to Zimbabwe as missionaries in 1987, we stopped in Kenya for a bit so I could show her my birth country, our home, my school, Rift Valley Academy, and ministry places where my parents invested their lives. Gerald and Ruth opened their home to us, loaned us a car, and spent hours chatting with us as we prepared for our new adventure in Southern Africa.
We were able to reciprocate that hospitality when they visited us in Zimbabwe on a few occasions. They also attended some of our annual missionary retreats in Southern Africa. They were incredibly supportive of all that was happening in the region.
Ruth was warm and loving and was a lady with great wisdom. She loved Africa and she loved her family. She also cared deeply for the missionaries serving on the whole continent of Africa. She was a wonderful hostess providing gentle care to anyone who needed it.
The last time we saw Gerald and Ruth was when we visited them at the care home in Kelowna a few years ago. They had their rooms beside each other and we found them sitting together near a big window in the cafeteria. Although their minds were not clear at the time, both Gerald and Ruth perked up when they heard the Cornelius name and when we talked of Africa.
“Well done good and faithful servant”.
We are praying for the family as they grieve this loss. We know that there will be Africans in various parts of the world who will grieve as well.
With love and prayers,
Murray and Cindy Cornelius
Executive Director for International Missions
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
Ruth & Gerald were our overseers in East Africa for many years and we so appreciated their leadership, hospitality, and sacrificial ministry. They were superb examples of committed global workers and we are thankful for the many fond memories we made with them in Kenya. Wilf and Lillian, Rebekah & Lukas
I have so many memories of Ruth and Gerald… they were part of our journey back to Kenya in 1982… always willing to listen and share stories, always supportive, always there for all of us missionaries. Ruth is home at last… we send our love and prayers to all of the family today. Marg
What a day of mixed feelings – rejoicing that Ruth has gone home but grieving the loss of her gentle spirit here on earth. Ruth left an imprint on my life when I was in Nairobi as a young adult. She showed me what I could become as a wife and mother. Her life gave me hope for the future seeing her love for Gerald and her family.
To Kathy, Lori and Michael (and your siblings) I send my deepest condolences. Your mother lives on in you. What a legacy you have! Your parents hold a very special place in my heart. I am forever grateful for your sacrifice in sharing them with so many of us.
Much love,
Edie (Jardine) Smith
Our condolences to the family. Memories are many as we worked in Tanzania. Often when we were in Nairobi we were invited to their home. Always a fun time with lots of African experience stories. They will forever be in our, and our children’s, memories.
My sympathy to Ruth’s family,. She will be greatly missed by all. I feel blessed to have known Ruth and to have been on the receiving end of her hospitality when I was a part of the missionary family in Kenya and later to have had the opportunities to chat over lunch or coffee and dessert when the Morrisons visited Montreal Evangel my home church..
Michael-What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see – Mom is now living in the reality of that song. We are with warm memories of their overnight visits in our home in Jinja Uganda. Our prayerful condolences to the family at this time of Mothers HOME GOING. Alex & Janet Strong
Rembering Ruth
Of the bright button eyes and the slimmest ankles…A woman full of love grace joy kindness
Mercy and understanding. All attributes of our lord Jesus Christ
We are so thankful for ALL the memories of Ruth
And so thankful she gave us Lori
As we remember her life with us we give thanks and praise to our God as she is fully alive now together with Jesus
Jean and Malcolm Hunter
Dear Morrison Family,
Thank you for sharing your sweet Mom with us today. We were able to sit quietly this evening in our living room & watch the video, such a blessing. A life well celebrated. We met Ruth & Gerald some twenty years ago & had the privilege of being guests in their home for lunch one day. Such a gracious hostess. A wonderful memory of them both asking of our life’s story with such love & sincerity & ministering the Living Word into our lives. Even knowing they are both with their Savior & together again, we can never be prepared for such a loss. Our hearts & prayers go out to you all. God bless.
Sue & Rick Nelson
Great Memoires. We have such wonderful times with them in Liberia as our Family the Ken Gaglardi’s. She was truly an elegant lady and a blessing to all. May the Lords comfort enfold you all.
Ruth Morrison was a “Mother in Israel” to me and so many other younger missionary wives. She and Gerald met Herb and me, 7 day married, at Robertsfield Airport as we began our Liberia missionary work together. She was my mentor and model (and next-door neighbour who advised me at 5 am to head to ELWA hospital because “I think this baby is about to be born, even if he is a month early”)! So many times, her example gave me the courage to persevere in the stresses of 1970’s Liberia missionary life. I was privileged to be her friend. To paraphrase Paul, “She has kept the faith. Now there is in store for her the .crown of righteousness, which the Lord….will award to her… “
I am so grateful that we got to care for your mom and dad. They were both very special people, and I have had the honor of being able to know their family. Your mom and dad and all of you have a special spot in my heart.