Born August 23, 1938, to Swan Swansson and Minnie Peterson in Minnesota, married Bill Flygare in 1958, who was a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Illinois until his death in 1981. Married Vernon Halberstadt in 1987, who passed away in 2011. Ruth has four children and two stepsons, daughter, Karna and husband Michael Wilms in Chicago, IL, son, John and wife Paola in Burlingame, CA, daughter, Amy and husband Gary Raden in Big Sky, MT, daughter, Sarah in Issaquah, WA, stepson, Rusty Halberstadt in Urbana, IL, and David Halberstadt, who preceeded her in death. Also surviving are twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild, her sister, Charlotte and husband Richard Erickson of Pequot Lakes, MN and sister-in-law, Nancy Flygare of Springfield, MO.

The family united with Ruth shortly prior to her death for a family reunion, and as such, no services or memorial will be held. Donations can be sent to the ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) Association or Camp Knutson in Crosslake, MN.