Ruth Annette Wiig

Ruth Wiig

September 25, 1940 – August 20, 2026

The world lost a kind and beautiful soul with the passing of Ruth Wiig, age 85, who passed away peacefully in her home on August 20, 2026, surrounded by family.

Ruth was born on September 25, 1940, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Mable and John Grussing. She grew up in Hopkins, Minnesota, alongside her five siblings.

Some of her fondest childhood memories included ice skating at the local skating rink in Minnesota and visiting relatives at the family farm in Clara City.

Ruth met the love of her life, Paul Wiig in high school. What began as a young love grew into an extraordinary partnership that would span a lifetime. Ruth and Paul shared 68 years of marriage, creating a beautiful life filled with family, together. Built on love, laughter, bargains, sales, books, friendship, and unwavering commitment, the love they had for one another was something truly special and served as an example and inspiration to everyone fortunate enough to witness it.

Together, Ruth and Paul welcomed two sons, Robert and Randy, and eventually watched their family grow to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren who became some of Ruth's greatest joys.

After working in retail and the food industry, Ruth and her family relocated to Colorado Springs in 1968. There, she found great joy in watching her sons grow, cheering them on through sports and all of life’s milestones. She took immense pride in the men they became and was always one of their greatest supporters.

It was there that Ruth found her passion, in a career that seemed made especially for her. Her heart had always belonged to children and books, and she became an elementary school librarian with Colorado Springs School District 11.

For Ruth, being a librarian was never simply a job. It was an opportunity to make children feel welcomed, valued, and loved. Ruth made every moment with each student special through the magic of imagination and storytelling. She taught children to believe in themselves and believe that they could become anything in the world.

Her library at school was a special place. Children could climb into the bathtub that she kept in the library and curl up with a book, or gather around her as she read aloud and somehow made the characters, adventures, and magic within the pages come alive. She had a remarkable gift for making children feel important, and the love she gave her students was returned to her many times over. Generations of children were fortunate enough to know her not simply as their librarian, but as someone who made their school; and their world…a little brighter.

Her grandchildren will remember the moments that might have seemed ordinary at the time but became some of life's most treasured memories: back-to-school shopping trips, wandering through the book store, attending church on Christmas Eve, family ski trips, special brunches and luncheons with tea at the Broadmoor, swimming, and going to the North Pole. Of all the beautiful memories her family will carry forward, the sound of her voice singing ‘You Are My Sunshine’ while swinging together in the hammock will remain one of the most precious of all.

Above all, Ruth will be remembered for the way she loved people.

She loved her husband and her family; without condition. But her kindness did not stop with family. Ruth had a way of offering that same love, compassion, and acceptance to nearly everyone who crossed her path.

She was an optimist. She was a caregiver. She was an encourager. She trusted in people and believed in the goodness of the world.

And because of the way she lived, she left the world better than she found it.

Her smile, her gentleness, her laughter, her love of children and books, and the incredible sense of warmth she gave to others will be deeply missed. Her family is profoundly grateful for the years they were blessed to have with her and for the example she gave them of how to live with kindness, generosity, hope, and unconditional love.

Ruth is survived by her beloved husband of 68 years, Paul Wiig; her sons, Robert Wiig (Christy Wiig) of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Randy Wiig of Montrose, Colorado; her cherished grandchildren, Heidi, Kari, and Chris; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Autumn, Hunter, Dominic, Chase, and Zoe.

She is also survived by her sister, Joan; brothers, Don and Marv; as well as her sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, former students, and many others whose lives were touched by her kindness.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Mable and John Grussing; her brother, John Grussing Jr.; and her sister, Judy Booth.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to The Son’s of Norway Lodge, 1045 Ford St. Colorado Springs, CO 80915 in Ruth's honor.

In keeping with Ruth's wishes, no formal memorial service will be held. Instead, she wanted those who knew and loved her to remember the good times—the laughter, the adventures, the stories, the family gatherings, and all of the beautiful moments they were fortunate enough to share with her.

Perhaps the greatest tribute to Ruth is simply to live as she did: love people generously, believe in the good in others, make children feel special, find joy in a good story, and leave the world a little kinder than you found it.