Ruthann died June 14, 2024. She passed peacefully in her sleep at her Denver, CO home.
Ruthann was born September 21, 1932 to Hazel Christianson and Marvin Swenson in Watertown SouthDakota. As a child she faced the tragic loss of her mother and brother (Johnny), but just a handful of years later, encouraged by her father and grandmother (Anna), she boldly ventured forth to pursue her education having earned a partial scholarship to St. Olaf College in Northfield Minnesota. After graduating Ruthann moved to Minneapolis taking a job as a university librarian, where she met and fell in love with Rudy Fischer, who shared her love of books, publishing and libraries.
The couple married in 1960, and two years later rejoiced in the birth of their son Quentin. Ruthann worked as an editorial assistant at Augsburg Publishing House, Rudy worked as a librarian, and they both attended the University of Minnesota. The family was happy for a time, but 1971 brought monumental changes – Ruthann divorced Rudy, finished her master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota, and she and Quentin moved to California to live with her sister Ginger.
Ruthann dove into her new career, landing a position with the University of Southern California Medical Center Psychiatric Hospital and the family (Ruthann, Quentin and Ginger) moved closer to her workplace. As fate would have it, they moved into the Magnolia Park Apartments in Sherman Oaks. There Ruthann met the love of her life Sheldon Balas. Three years later, in 1975, Ruthann and Shel were married and the new merged family including Ginger, Quentin and Shel’s son Paul moved into their new home in North Hollywood CA. The next six years brought the family joy, with job advancements for Shel and Ruthann (including the start of her private practice) and the pursuit of school for Ginger, Quentin and Paul. Then came the sudden and tragic loss of Shel’s parents, which prompted the family’s move to the Highland Park area of LA.
After two short but also seemingly interminably long years, a combination of fear and sadness prompted the family’s relocation to Aspen Colorado. Upon reaching this self-described “Camelot” Ruthann and Shel entered a sort of semi-retirement enjoying all that the vibrant, sophisticated, yet quaint little town of Aspen had to offer. With what can only be described as wild abandon and overly optimistic zeal they purchased an art gallery, which Ginger managed and (with Shel) kept a going concern for over a decade.
Ruthann continued her private practice part-time, and with the family’s encouragement, earned her doctoral degree in psychology from the Union Institute in 1994. Subsequent years brought European travel, and many family triumphs: the completion of graduate degrees by both sons, the marriage of Quentin to Elaine, and the marriage of Paul to Lynda; but they also brought trials and tribulations - the most devastating of which was the onset of Shel’s long battle with lung cancer. Shel’s declining health precipitated their move to Denver in 1999. Even so there were happy times there too, most especially the joy brought by the birth and childhood of grandchildren Olivia and Louis. Ruthann and Shel so enjoyed watching Paul and Lynda being parents, and reveled in the progress and triumphs of their grandchildren as they grew.
Ruthann continued her psychology practice and life-long learning, while Shel’s health went through a roller coaster of cancer, treatment, remission and relapse. She progressively focused more and more on Shel’s care as his health diminished, culminating in his fourth and final bout of cancer (2010 - 2011). Ruthann was absolutely devastated by Shel’s passing, yet somehow, as she had with great losses prior, she managed to rally and strive onward. Ruthann spent time with family and friends, went to new and familiar restaurants, made frequent visits to bookstores, libraries and museums, and always, always, continued reading and learning. A handful of years later Ruthann fell and a broken hip precipitated a gradual physical decline. However, being Ruthann, she remained cognitively adroit adapting quickly to audible books as her eyesight failed. In a similar vein, she took it as a great personal triumph to be able to remain in her own home until the end.
Ruthann was preceded in death by: her parents, brother John, and sister Caroll; and is survived by: her sister Ginger Swenson (Carbondale CO), son and daughter-in-law Quentin and Elaine Fischer (Roanoke VA), son and daughter-in-law Paul and Lynda Balas and their children Olivia and Louis (Denver CO).
Ruthann, was, and shall remain, an extraordinary influence on those who shared her life. Daughter, granddaughter, niece, sister, cousin, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, colleague, student, teacher, reader, author, editor, Lutheran, librarian, gallerist, therapist, doctor, and patient. She touched so many with her loving, curious, kind, and strong-willed spirit. The sum of her life was those relationships, those endeavors, her influence upon them, and their influence upon her. To her, to us, that life was rich and glorious, at once filled with moments precious and beautiful, trying and heartbreaking, alternately brimming over with fulfillment and loss, joy and sorrow. We celebrate now her life, knowing that we will always carry with us a part of her wonderous spirt – a lasting echo of that cherished shared experience.
The Society is grateful for Ruthann's membership and participation with our organization.
