Ruth Marion (Poll) Beaver

Grand Marais

Ruth Marion (Poll) Beaver, age 97, of Grand Marais, died on September 16, 2019.  Ruth was born to Fred and Susan (Jannereth) Poll on June 20, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and grew up during the Great Depression.  She graduated in 1940 from Wyoming High School where she met the love of her life and married Neal Wallace Beaver on Christmas Eve 1942 while he was home on military leave.  He left right after to go to war; made it home alive and together continued sixty-four years of marriage.  During the war, Ruth worked in a bomber plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan as a “Rosie the Riveter” to help with the war effort.  After the war, she settled in Wayne, Ohio where she worked as a school cafeteria cook from 1962 to 1969.  Summers were spent in Grand Marais.  She moved to Grand Marais in the summer of 1969, where she remained.  While in Grand Marais, she owned and operated “The Beaver House” dry goods store as well as the “Grand Marais Pilot and Pictured Rocks Review.”  Ruthie’s house became a meeting place for relatives, friends, family, and former students of Neal’s or anyone else that would stop to say hi and get a hug.  A warm and loving person that always made you feel welcome; she will be missed by all.  Her hobbies included laying out in the sunshine, music, picking agates, antiques, grandkids, practical jokes and of course shopping!

She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Susan (Jannereth) Poll, sister and brother-in-law Eleanor and George Nitz, brother and sister-in-law Gordon and Betty Poll, husband Neal, daughter-in-law Dale Ann (Thompson) Beaver, and two nephews.

Surviving are three sons – Wayne of Olivia, NC, Gary (Linda) of Grand Marais, MI, Kevin (Martha) of Gladstone, MI; one daughter – Renee (Bob) Stocking of Grand Marais, MI; nine grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren, nieces, a nephew, and two cousins.

Upon Ruth’s request, there will be no service.  Please consider a donation to Ruth’s favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.