Katherine Ruskin

Katherine Ruskin passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home. Katherine was born on September 27, 1925, to John and Maria Maruk in the village of Harisymiw in Western Ukraine. When Katherine was 11 years old, she and her mother emigrated to Canada to join her father on the farm he had purchased near Fork River, MB.

She married Andrew Ruskin on October 14, 1948. Their first few years of married life were spent in Fort Francis and Kenora, ON. They moved to Rorketon, which was home until Andrew retired.

Katherine was a wife, mother and homemaker. She enjoyed gardening and the cold room and freezers in the basement were filled with produce from her garden.

On winter evenings she loved to crochet, visit and play cards. Katherine was an amazing cook and patiently taught her daughter and granddaughters many traditional Ukrainian recipes. No one ever left her house hungry and usually a “care package” was sent along for the ride home.

In 1972 they moved to their new home in Dauphin. For several years Katherine worked with home care. After Andrew passed away, Katherine continued to live in her home. Her family, friends, yard and garden kept her busy. She was always quick to welcome new neighbours with a kind word and fresh baking or a new baby with a small gift.

An unfortunate accident put Katherine in the hospital and necessitated the move to the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home where she remained until her passing.

Katherine leaves to mourn her passing and cherish wonderful memories, her daughter Anne Richards of Gilbert Plains; brother Michael (Carole); sister Anne (Roy) of Winnipeg; grandchildren Meagan, Kaylie, Cory (Alla) and Amber (Greg); great granddaughters Maizie and Lyvie as well as her nephews and nieces.

Katherine was predeceased by her husband Andrew; son Walter; parents John and Maria Maruk and nieces Deborah Maruk and Lisa Copeland.

The family would like to extend its thanks to the compassionate staff at the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home for their warmth, care and kindness to Katherine.

VICHNAYA PAMYAT – Memory Eternal

A funeral service was held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 10 am from the Sneath Strilchuk Family Care Centre with Father Ivan Hnativ officiating. Interment followed in the Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Rorketon, MB 

Should friend so desire donations and memory of Katherine may be made to the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home – Activity Department.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Katherine Ruskin, please visit our floral store.