F. Ruth Craig Schweikhart, age 81, of Canadian Lakes, died peacefully early Easter morning, March 23, 2008, at Altercare of Big Rapids. Ruth was born on May 6, 1926, in the tiny resort town of Bear Lake, Michigan, the freckle-faced, red-haired youngest child of Flossie and Stacey Frank Gilmore, owners of the local Standard Oil Station. She described her childhood as "a happy one," playing ball, hiking around the lake, skiing, ice-skating, and bobsledding on a sled that her father built. At 15 she left home and moved to Manistee for her senior year of high school, followed by Western Union School in Crawfordsville, Indiana. While working as a waitress at a local restaurant in Big Rapids, she met Howard Craig, who was attending Ferris Institute on the GI Bill. After they married on September 6, 1946, at St. Patrick's Church in Escanaba, Ruth became a busy, full-time homemaker and eventually the mother of 9 children. Howard passed away on November 21, 1990. Ruth was a devoted parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church and supporter of St. Mary's Elementary School. For many years, she created professional posters and props for most of the parish's fundraisers, including Fun Night, and worked with the Ladies Altar Society. A lover of acting and singing, she played the lead in many plays and operettas during high school. As an adult, she sang soprano in the church choir, thrilled to learn a new mass in Latin for Christmas and Easter each year. On Saturdays she sang for weddings, and at Christmas she performed in Handel's Messiah at Star Auditorium. Ruth used her artistic talents to create her children's prizewinning costumes and floats for the annual summer recreation school parade and large floats for Bear Lake Days. Her beautifully decorated cakes for parties and weddings were in demand in the 1960s, and each year her specialty cakes won awards at the Mecosta County Fair. Later, she developed an interest in quilting and made lovely original quilts for her children and grandchildren. The grandchildren particularly cherish the baby quilts. Ruth's organizational and artistic skills were helpful when she established her business, Star Minute Print, in 1967 when her youngest, Jeffrey, was four. The business flourished at several locations in Big Rapids, expanding into wedding and party invitations. Over the years, she earned many awards from major suppliers. Ruth married Ralph Schweikhart in 1993 at St. Paul's Chapel. The two moved Star Minute Print to their home at Canadian Lakes and cut hours so that they could travel the country and enjoy each other's company. After 39 years in business, Ruth retired fully in 2005. At Canadian Lakes, Ruth assisted with the formation of the first Communiqu Committee for the CLPOC, serving as chairperson and printer from its inception. She also did the layouts and printing of Lite Lines for the CLA for over 18 years. Ruth is survived by loving husband Ralph Schweikhart; four daughters: Diane (Frank) Kennedy of Grand Haven, Julie (Dan Parras) Bildner of Grand Haven, Jean Marie (Tom) Alderink of Hudsonville, and Connie (Dan Holloman) Sisk of Yukon, Oklahoma; five sons: Tom (Fran) Craig of Mecosta; Jimm (Latania) Craig of Wartrace, Tennessee; Bob (Patty) Craig of Big Rapids; Bill (Grace) Craig of Chesterfield Township; and Jeff (Jasmine) Craig of Dueville Vicenza, Italy; five step-children: David (Lisa) Schweikhart of Cadillac, Gary (Martha) Schweikhart of Walled Lake, Donna Drouin of Sterling Heights, Lynn Schweikhart of Tennessee, and Amy (John) Bianco of L'Anse; thirty-three grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul's Chapel in Big Rapids at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 27,2008, with Father Joe Fix officiating. Burial will be at Highland View Cemetery in Big Rapids. Friends may meet the family on Wednesday, March 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Michigan (www.hom.org/donating.asp) or the National Parkinson Foundation (www.parkinson.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=279&srcid=247).