Northport – Ruth Sylvia Holmstrom (Anderson), age 89, of Northport, passed away peacefully with family by her side.

Ruth was born Nov 5, 1934 in Amherst, Nova Scotia, the daughter of Rita (Gourley) and Gerald Anderson. On June 12, 1954 in Detroit, she married John D.

Holmstrom who passed away in 2021.

Mom lived a very full life, starting in a small rural community in Canada, enduring a fractured early family life, yet spending much of her formative years happily living on her grandparents farm with her two sisters. Mom was very close to her grandfather and shared many warm memories of helping him on the farm. As a 15 year old she joined her mother in Detroit, in the bustling times of 1950. Mom and Dad met as teenagers in Detroit, soon after Mom had made the journey from Nova Scotia. They quickly fell in love, and kept that flame burning for over 70 years. Mom enjoyed life in big bites – raising four kids, loving eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, helping to run dad’s business while also working as the business manager of a patent law firm. Mom and dad maintained a full social calendar, served in their church, and had a large circle of friends. Through all of that they also found time and resources to establish a little slice of paradise in Leelanau County, where all of the family and many friends enjoyed memorable vacations with mom and dad. Ruth is survived by her four children, John (Theresa) Holmstrom, Robert (Rose) Holmstrom, Kathryn (Ronald) Holmstrom-Baker, and Kristi Holmstrom; 10 grandchildren, Leslie, Erik, Rachel, Laura, Allan, Ethan, Kaylon, Kaitlyn, Layla, and Nicklas; six greatgrandchildren, Sawyer, Wynn, Levi, Stetson, Sophie, and Lucas; and her sister Eleanor Hardie and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Holmstrom; her granddaughter, Kelsey Holmstrom; and her sister Elizabeth Lang.

Funeral services will be held at First Lutheran Church, 321 N St Marys Ave, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, Saturday March 16, 10:00am, with internment following at 11:30am, at Leelanau Township Cemetery, Northport, MI. Lunch will be offered at a local venue TBD.

An afternoon memorial gathering for close friends and relatives will be held on Sunday, May 19 at the cottage, where we will toast Mom as the sun sets over the big lake.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Northport Highlands Senior Living, 215 S High St, Northport, MI 49670, in memory of Ruth Holmstrom.

Family would like to extend a special thank you to Northport Highlands Senior Living and their wonderful staff and Heartland Hospice for making Mom’s last few years happy and comfortable.

Please share condolences with the family at www.martinson.info Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.