Ruby McCann

   Ruby (Lucht) McCann was born to Roy and Bertha (Sellheim) Lucht in Pembina County, Cavalier, North Dakota on July 24, 1928. When she was two, the family moved to Inkster, North Dakota, where she attended grade and high school graduating in 1946.

   Ruby began her teaching career after a brief 8-week training at Mayville State University. She taught school for 2 years in a rural school near Larimore and Honeyford before going back to Mayville State to finish a 2-year course to earn her Standard teaching certificate. She then taught school at Inkster, Lakota and Fisher, MN before her marriage to George McCann of Buffalo, ND on September 6, 1953.

   Ruby and George took over the ownership and management of the grocery store in Buffalo, which they operated for the next 36 years before George’s retirement in 1990.

   During this time, they had 4 daughters – Marla, Laurie, Sandy and Karen. Ruby gave piano lessons and taught Sunday school for about 10 years while the girls were young. Later she went on to complete her 4-year teaching degree at Valley City State University, also teaching part-time kindergarten at this time. In 1974, Ruby began teaching grades 1-2 at Oriska, ND and taught there for 16 years before retiring in 1990.

   After retiring, they moved to Casselton, ND, where George passed away on July 17, 2003, just a month and a half before their 50th wedding anniversary.

   Ruby served as an elder in the Buffalo Presbyterian Church, also serving as a church organist for over 50 years. After moving to Casselton, she served as a deacon at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

   Ruby enjoyed reading, gardening, crocheting, playing cards and teaching.

   Ruby is survived by her daughters Marla McCann, Fargo; Laurie (Randy) Ries, Buffalo; Sandy (Mark) Dooley, West Fargo; and Karen (Tim) Olson, Plains, MT; her grandchildren Matt (RaeAnn) Dooley, Erica Olson, and Erin (Chris) Halverson-Hook, and several great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Virginia Martinez, Wichita Falls, TX; and her brothers Ben Lucht, Grand Forks; and Ivan (Gerry Lee) Lucht, West Fargo.

   Memorials are preferred to Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo, ND, Meals on Wheels and Ethos Hospice. 

Ruby’s family will hold a private graveside service at the Buffalo Cemetery in Buffalo, ND.

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