Ruby hauge

Ruby Hauge

Stoughton Area Senior Center SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Ruby Hauge Ruby was born in Stoughton Hospital on July 31, 1925. She lived in Stoughton and later the family moved to her grandmother’s farm east of Stoughton. Her parents were Parker and Myrtle Lee. She had five siblings; one brother and four sisters.

Her brother was killed in an auto accident when he was 21 years old. Margery died at birth and Ramona died at age 4. Ruby has two sisters; Lorraine Hawkinson, she lives between Stoughton and Oregon; and Shirley Richardson, she lives in Northglenn, Colorado. Ruby’s daughter, Kris Theiler (Paul), they live in Chickasha, OK and grandson, Nick Skaar, lives in Poynette, WI. Her son, Jim died in 2013 from throat cancer.

Ruby went to several rural schools in the Stoughton area and attended Stoughton High School. She graduated in 1944. She then went to Whitewater College. She attended classes in education.

One and half years before she was to graduate her counselor told her that the Old Deerfield School needed a teacher for second semester. Their teacher had become sick and could not return. The counselor said if Ruby wanted to do it and if she felt she was able to handle it, the teaching job was hers. So that is what she did! She taught school before she graduated! Ruby had all the grades–1-8. Luckily the children were well behaved and loved to help. No one had ever taught Ruby how to manage the big black furnace at the front of the room. Some days they had to wear coats and other days they had to open the windows. Ruby lived with a family in the neighborhood.

In the following years Ruby taught at the Oakside, Odland and Buckeye Schools.

The new Kegonsa Schol opened in 1962 and she got a job as a fourth grade teacher.

The next year Ruby went back to Whitewater and got certified as a librarian. She worked at Kegonsa School as librarian for twenty-seven years. She retired in 1989.

Thirty-one years total as a teacher and librarian!

Retirement for Ruby and her husband, Mike was a time to travel and to dance.

They were very successful and traveled to many fun places and danced to their favorite bands. They became volunteers at the Senior Center. Ruby was a receptionist at the Center two days a week and worked in the kitchen. Mike and Ruby both delivered Meals on Wheels for the rural route. Ruby also decorates the tables at the Senior Center.