THE LIFE OF RUTH ZIOLKOWSKI
Ruth Ross was born June 26, 1926 in Hartford, Connecticut. She first met Korczak Ziolkowski at age 13 when she and a girlfriend mustered the courage to call at the sculptor's home in West Hartford seeking the autograph of a well known movie star who was visiting at the time. Two years later, Ruth met Korczak again when she was among a group of volunteers helping to raise money for the statue of Noah Webster which the sculptor was carving as a gift to West Hartford.
Korczak came to the Black Hills on May 3, 1947. Ruth followed a short time later, working as a volunteer to help create a memorial honoring the North American Indian. She helped Korczak prepare the logs for the log studio-home, as well as construct the 741-step wooden staircase to the top of the mountain.
Ruth and Korczak were married at Crazy Horse on Thanksgiving Day, 1950. Together, they shared the hard work and the joys of undertaking such a massive project. While Korczak worked on the mountain, Ruth managed the visitor complex. She also helped run the large dairy farm and lumber mill which was started to help sustain Crazy Horse through the difficult, early years.
Together Ruth and Korczak had 10 children, five boys and five girls, all of whom were born at home. Crazy Horse became very much a family project with John, Dawn, Adam, Jadwiga, Casimir, Anne, Mark, Joel, Monique and Marinka all growing up helping in the Visitor Center and on the Mountain. At the time of her passing, Ruth's family had grown to include 23 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Realizing that Ruth might one day inherit the responsibility of carrying on the Crazy Horse dream, Korczak prepared three books of comprehensive plans for the continuation of the mountain carving. That day arrived in 1982 when Korczak passed away at the age of 74. Ruth has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation ever since, staying actively involved right up until the day she died. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Korczak, and their daughter, Anne.
Ruth was the inspirational leader of the Crazy Horse project and provided a steady guiding hand. Under her leadership, uninterrupted progress continued on the massive mountain sculpture, the Indian Museum of North America was expanded significantly, the Indian University of North American became reality, and the Foundation's Scholarship Program grew to exceed $2 million in cumulative financial assistance awarded to Native American students.
Affectionately known as "Mrs. Z", Ruth loved her work. To her, it was simply a way of life and she lived each day with a sense of purpose and a strong spirit. Ruth possessed the inner strength and iron-will needed to persevere through difficult and challenging times and she faced adversity with courage and conviction. Ruth's legacy is one defined by faith and fortitude that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard enough and never give up.
Ruth Ross was born June 26, 1926 in Hartford, Connecticut. She first met Korczak Ziolkowski at age 13 when she and a girlfriend mustered the courage to call at the sculptor's home in West Hartford seeking the autograph of a well known movie star who was visiting at the time. Two years later, Ruth met Korczak again when she was among a group of volunteers helping to raise money for the statue of Noah Webster which the sculptor was carving as a gift to West Hartford.
Korczak came to the Black Hills on May 3, 1947. Ruth followed a short time later, working as a volunteer to help create a memorial honoring the North American Indian. She helped Korczak prepare the logs for the log studio-home, as well as construct the 741-step wooden staircase to the top of the mountain.
Ruth and Korczak were married at Crazy Horse on Thanksgiving Day, 1950. Together, they shared the hard work and the joys of undertaking such a massive project. While Korczak worked on the mountain, Ruth managed the visitor complex. She also helped run the large dairy farm and lumber mill which was started to help sustain Crazy Horse through the difficult, early years.
Together Ruth and Korczak had 10 children, five boys and five girls, all of whom were born at home. Crazy Horse became very much a family project with John, Dawn, Adam, Jadwiga, Casimir, Anne, Mark, Joel, Monique and Marinka all growing up helping in the Visitor Center and on the Mountain. At the time of her passing, Ruth's family had grown to include 23 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Realizing that Ruth might one day inherit the responsibility of carrying on the Crazy Horse dream, Korczak prepared three books of comprehensive plans for the continuation of the mountain carving. That day arrived in 1982 when Korczak passed away at the age of 74. Ruth has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation ever since, staying actively involved right up until the day she died. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Korczak, and their daughter, Anne.
Ruth was the inspirational leader of the Crazy Horse project and provided a steady guiding hand. Under her leadership, uninterrupted progress continued on the massive mountain sculpture, the Indian Museum of North America was expanded significantly, the Indian University of North American became reality, and the Foundation's Scholarship Program grew to exceed $2 million in cumulative financial assistance awarded to Native American students.
Affectionately known as "Mrs. Z", Ruth loved her work. To her, it was simply a way of life and she lived each day with a sense of purpose and a strong spirit. Ruth possessed the inner strength and iron-will needed to persevere through difficult and challenging times and she faced adversity with courage and conviction. Ruth's legacy is one defined by faith and fortitude that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard enough and never give up.
THE LIFE OF RUTH ZIOLKOWSKI
Ruth Ross was born June 26, 1926 in Hartford, Connecticut. She first met Korczak Ziolkowski at age 13 when she and a girlfriend mustered the courage to call at the sculptor's home in West Hartford seeking the autograph of a well known movie star who was visiting at the time. Two years later, Ruth met Korczak again when she was among a group of volunteers helping to raise money for the statue of Noah Webster which the sculptor was carving as a gift to West Hartford.
Korczak came to the Black Hills on May 3, 1947. Ruth followed a short time later, working as a volunteer to help create a memorial honoring the North American Indian. She helped Korczak prepare the logs for the log studio-home, as well as construct the 741-step wooden staircase to the top of the mountain.
Ruth and Korczak were married at Crazy Horse on Thanksgiving Day, 1950. Together, they shared the hard work and the joys of undertaking such a massive project. While Korczak worked on the mountain, Ruth managed the visitor complex. She also helped run the large dairy farm and lumber mill which was started to help sustain Crazy Horse through the difficult, early years.
Together Ruth and Korczak had 10 children, five boys and five girls, all of whom were born at home. Crazy Horse became very much a family project with John, Dawn, Adam, Jadwiga, Casimir, Anne, Mark, Joel, Monique and Marinka all growing up helping in the Visitor Center and on the Mountain. At the time of her passing, Ruth's family had grown to include 23 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Realizing that Ruth might one day inherit the responsibility of carrying on the Crazy Horse dream, Korczak prepared three books of comprehensive plans for the continuation of the mountain carving. That day arrived in 1982 when Korczak passed away at the age of 74. Ruth has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation ever since, staying actively involved right up until the day she died. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Korczak, and their daughter, Anne.
Ruth was the inspirational leader of the Crazy Horse project and provided a steady guiding hand. Under her leadership, uninterrupted progress continued on the massive mountain sculpture, the Indian Museum of North America was expanded significantly, the Indian University of North American became reality, and the Foundation's Scholarship Program grew to exceed $2 million in cumulative financial assistance awarded to Native American students.
Affectionately known as "Mrs. Z", Ruth loved her work. To her, it was simply a way of life and she lived each day with a sense of purpose and a strong spirit. Ruth possessed the inner strength and iron-will needed to persevere through difficult and challenging times and she faced adversity with courage and conviction. Ruth's legacy is one defined by faith and fortitude that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard enough and never give up.
Ruth Ross was born June 26, 1926 in Hartford, Connecticut. She first met Korczak Ziolkowski at age 13 when she and a girlfriend mustered the courage to call at the sculptor's home in West Hartford seeking the autograph of a well known movie star who was visiting at the time. Two years later, Ruth met Korczak again when she was among a group of volunteers helping to raise money for the statue of Noah Webster which the sculptor was carving as a gift to West Hartford.
Korczak came to the Black Hills on May 3, 1947. Ruth followed a short time later, working as a volunteer to help create a memorial honoring the North American Indian. She helped Korczak prepare the logs for the log studio-home, as well as construct the 741-step wooden staircase to the top of the mountain.
Ruth and Korczak were married at Crazy Horse on Thanksgiving Day, 1950. Together, they shared the hard work and the joys of undertaking such a massive project. While Korczak worked on the mountain, Ruth managed the visitor complex. She also helped run the large dairy farm and lumber mill which was started to help sustain Crazy Horse through the difficult, early years.
Together Ruth and Korczak had 10 children, five boys and five girls, all of whom were born at home. Crazy Horse became very much a family project with John, Dawn, Adam, Jadwiga, Casimir, Anne, Mark, Joel, Monique and Marinka all growing up helping in the Visitor Center and on the Mountain. At the time of her passing, Ruth's family had grown to include 23 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Realizing that Ruth might one day inherit the responsibility of carrying on the Crazy Horse dream, Korczak prepared three books of comprehensive plans for the continuation of the mountain carving. That day arrived in 1982 when Korczak passed away at the age of 74. Ruth has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation ever since, staying actively involved right up until the day she died. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Korczak, and their daughter, Anne.
Ruth was the inspirational leader of the Crazy Horse project and provided a steady guiding hand. Under her leadership, uninterrupted progress continued on the massive mountain sculpture, the Indian Museum of North America was expanded significantly, the Indian University of North American became reality, and the Foundation's Scholarship Program grew to exceed $2 million in cumulative financial assistance awarded to Native American students.
Affectionately known as "Mrs. Z", Ruth loved her work. To her, it was simply a way of life and she lived each day with a sense of purpose and a strong spirit. Ruth possessed the inner strength and iron-will needed to persevere through difficult and challenging times and she faced adversity with courage and conviction. Ruth's legacy is one defined by faith and fortitude that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard enough and never give up.
Family Members
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