Helga Ruge

Helga Maria Ruge passed away peacefully at Amber Grove Place in Chico, CA on January 25, 2016. She was born in Wiesbaden, Germany on December 25, 1922 to Karl and Elisabet Kley. She received her Abitur, (high school diploma) with distinction, in Köln in 1942. She attended the Universities of Berlin and Marburg, Germany, and in later years graduated from Chico State University. She met Neil M. Ruge in 1945 in Bad Wildungen, Germany when he was in the Army, and after a four year long-distance courtship by letter, they married in Palermo, Italy in July 1949. Neil was an American Foreign Service Officer by then and she became an American citizen in two months. Helga accompanied Neil to his various posts abroad, living in Palermo, Sicily, Casablanca, Morocco, London, England, Cardiff, Wales, Washington D.C., Munich, Germany, and Guatemala City. Their son Carl was born in Casablanca and daughter Madeleine in Bad Wildungen. Upon Neil's retirement the family moved to Chico in 1969. Helga Ruge was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, the Chico Guild-North State Symphony and Chico Symphony Advisory Board. She served as President of both organizations. She was also a member of the Cosmos Club, the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Family Service League, the No-Host Dance Club, the former Community Concert Board, Chico Museum, Stansbury Home, Foreign Service Association, MOAA, and was a long time member of a ladies bicycle group. Helga enjoyed singing in the University Chorus and her church choir, and was very supportive of symphonic music in Chico. She loved to entertain and was the ultimate hostess; one specialty being throwing big garden parties to help raise money for the symphony. After Neil passed away in 2000 Helga wrote and self-published three books: Flashbacks of a Diplomat's Wife, a memoir; Whither the Promised Land, a novel; and More Truth than Fiction, Growing up in Europe between the World Wars. She loved giving presentations about her books to all sorts of local groups. Helga also enjoyed reading, gardening, traveling and the arts—especially opera and classical music. She is survived by her sister Ilse Kley of Köln, Germany, son Carl Ruge and wife Deborah (Annie), daughter Madeleine and husband Tom, grandchildren Micah, Leah, Morgan, Peter, and great granddaughters Peyton Ruge and Layla Ruge. There will be a memorial service February 20 at Faith Lutheran Church at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of Helga Ruge in support of North State Symphony. Checks may be made payable to CSU Chico-University Foundation, H. Ruge. Please send to: CSU Chico-Helga Ruge Memorial 400 West 1st St., Chico, CA 95929-0800