Ruth Adair Lau (nee Giese), of Moorhead, MN, passed away suddenly on March 12, 2026, at the age of 94. Born October 8, 1931, in Grand Forks, ND to Louis and Ella (nee Jackson) Giese; Ruth was the youngest of 5 children and raised on a farm in Keystone Township in Polk County, MN.

Ruth loved her childhood and had fond memories of farm life. She often said her best friends growing up were her dog, her horse and her cousins, most notably, Conrad and Boyd Giese.

As a child, Ruth attended school in a one room schoolhouse for 8 years. Upon entering high school, she attended Grand Forks Central for two years and then became a boarding student at the Northwest School of Agriculture (now University of Minnesota Crookston) in Crookston, MN, graduating in 1949.

Following high school, she attended one year of college at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, MN. She moved to Fargo in 1951 and began her work at Massey Harris Ferguson. It was during this time that she met her future husband.

On June 5, 1954, Ruth married Lyle Edward “Bud” Lau, Jr., from Fargo, ND, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in East Grand Forks, MN. Shortly after their wedding, Ruth and Bud moved to Spokane, WA where they lived for the first few years of their marriage and Ruth continued working for Massey Harris Ferguson.

In 1958, they moved to Moorhead and bought their forever home, where Ruth lived and nurtured family, friends and community for the next 68 years.

If you have ever been to the Lau house on Birch Lane, you know! You know that there was always an open door for a cup of coffee, a conversation or a game of cards.

The definition of Ruth, is “compassionate friend” and the name signifies loyalty and kindness. Such was Ruth Adair Lau.

Ruth embodied compassion, raising 6 kids of her own, while also helping to raise the kids of her community by providing child care out of her home for over 30 years.

Ruth had a passion for sewing and crafting, sewing many outfits for her children and spending time with her daughter, Mari, at many a craft show. When asked what her favorite things in life were, Ruth noted that she loved to travel and she loved to dance. She loved watching sports, particularly hockey, spending many hours throughout her life in hockey rinks. She loved horses and dogs, having been a fur mama and grandma to many lucky pets over the years. Most of all, Ruth loved spending time with her family and friends, who will all miss her deeply. This is the end of an era!

Ruth is survived by her children, Mari (Mike) Jastram, Mitch (Bobby Jo Schultz) Lau, Heidi (Greg Lund) Ness, Luci (Curt) Kovash, Chad (Sara Huey) Lau and forever son-in law, Steve Ness; her grandchildren, Mitch (Melanie) Lau, Jr., Ashley Lau, Zach (Gina) Jastram, Sarah (Matt) Gleason, Seth (Kari) Jastram, Melissa (Travis) Smith, Joey (Natalie Taylor) Lau, Adam (Stephanie) Kovash, Ella Kovash, Ana Lau, Trey Ness, Paityn Ness and Zander Ness; her 11 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bud, in 1996, son, Ryan “Rocky” Lau in 2011, siblings, Marlys, Donald, Dale, and Myles (Mickey), parents and several close friends.

A memorial service with Livestream will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 11 a.m. with a visitation one hour before the service and lunch to follow at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Scott Tobolt Foundation, an organization providing hockey equipment to kids in Moorhead Youth Hockey.

Final resting place will be in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.