Town Matriarch, Civic Leader Ruthanna Hall, Dies in Grand Junction

At her death last weekend, multi-decade Lake City resident Ruthanna Hall was described as the town’s matriarch and an essential element of the fabric of the town.
   Widowed since 2001, Mrs. Hall divided her time between cherished summer through fall months at her streamside home in Lake City, and winters spent at her townhome in Grand Junction, Colorado.
   According to her children, Christi Hall Reese and Dr. Bill Hall, she and her felines, Raz and CoCo, were convinced to transfer from Lake City to her winter home in Grand Junction slightly earlier than usual, leaving on Friday, October 11. According to Christi, Ruthanna was reluctant to leave, telling her, “I really don’t want to go, it’s the most beautiful time of the year.”
   Prior to her departure, she enjoyed an evening meal at Climb Elevated Eatery with her daughter and granddaughter, Christi and Sofi Reece, niece and husband, Danielle and Jeff Worthen, and longtime family friends Phillip and Carolyn Virden.
   The following day, accompanied by her daughter and granddaughter, and with cats in tow, she travelled to Grand Junction in time to attend 80th birthday festivities for another longtime family friend, Dan Milski, hosted by his wife, Nancy Tinnen Milski, on Saturday, October 12. The birthday party was a highlight attended by family and close friends from Lake City dating back decades.
   She was comfortably transitioning back into late fall/winter life at her Grand Junction townhome when she suffered a massive stroke last Tuesday, October 15. Following hospitalization at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, she was transferred to Hope West Hospice where she died Saturday, October 19.
   An outdoor memorial celebration is planned in the garden of her Wade’s Addition summer home on the banks of the Lake Fork River on what would have been her 84th birthday, June 4, 2025.
   Following is a concise obituary penned by Ruthanna’s daughter, Christi Hall Reece. SILVER WORLD is also compiling information for a more detailed obituary which will be published at a later date:
  
   Ruthanna Mae Urankar Hall, born June 4, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio, to August Anthony Urankar and Frances Jean Lausche, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2024, surrounded by family and friends. A woman of grace, style, and strength, Ruthanna’s life was filled with love, laughter, and a deep connection to her family and community.
   Her family moved to Florida where Ruthanna graduated from Venice High School. Though she briefly studied nursing, Ruthanna was destined for adventure.
   She became a flight attendant for Delta, spreading her wings and finding herself based in Dallas, where she met the love of her life, Bill Hall.
   In 1972, Ruthanna’s life took a turn toward the mountains. Bill convinced her to leave the city behind and settle in Lake City, a small town with just 200 year-round residents at the time. Together, they purchased The Sportsman Sporting Goods store, raised their two children amidst the breathtaking beauty of the San Juan Mountains, and later founded Hall Realty, a cornerstone of the local real estate market.
   After some time, they sold the sporting goods store to fully focus on their growing real estate venture. The journey to Lake City was a significant one for the Hall family, eventually leading Bill’s siblings to move to the area as well, where they all became integral members of the community.
   Ruthanna quickly became an important part of the tight-knit town. She was one of the first local EMTs. She held a real estate license and owned Hinsdale County Title Co., where she enjoyed researching property records in the old courthouse vault.
   She also enjoyed, and took very seriously, her role on the county planning commission. Ruthanna’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to own and run The Pueblo House, the gift shop shared with her daughter Christi.
   When she finally retired, Ruthanna didn’t slow down. She poured her heart into her community through organizations like DIRT, the Lake Fork Community Foundation, and The Wine and Music Festival.
   She and Bill were instrumental in establishing the local bank, the medical center, the art center, and the beloved Mountaineer Movie Theatre, leaving a legacy that will forever be felt by the residents and visitors of Lake City.
   Ruthanna had a unique blend of grace and quick wit. She had an unmistakable style—never leaving the house without looking effortlessly elegant. She was an adventurous traveler. She had an eye for beauty and was a talented artist.
   An avid lover of animals, especially her cherished cats, Ruthanna had a soft spot for those in need, whether they had two legs or four. She was a strong yogini. She was ordered and organized. Bed always made. No dishes in the sink. No grammar mistake uncorrected.
   Her home, nestled by the river and surrounded by trees, was her sanctuary, a place where she cherished both her privacy and the company of close friends and family. With a glass of wine in hand, Ruthanna loved nothing more than sharing stories and laughter with those dearests to her. And though winters saw her in Grand Junction, closer to her grandchildren, her heart was always in Lake City, where she would eagerly return each spring, after a yearly visit with her treasured sisters.
   Since her husband Bill’s passing in 2001, Ruthanna missed him dearly. Together, they had created a life they were proud of, contributing to the community they loved so much. But her greatest joy was always found in her family—her children, grandchildren, sisters, nieces, and nephews. For Ruthanna, family wasn’t limited to blood; her friends in Lake City became her family, too.
   Ruthanna is survived by her sisters, Sally and Ramona, her son Bill Hall and his wife Uschi of Ridgway, her daughter Christi Reece of Grand Junction, and her grandchildren Katie, Max, Zenon, and Sofi. She also leaves behind her stepdaughter Helen Hall Burnell and husband Todd, and their children Cash and Kelly; niece Danielle Hall Worthen and her husband Jeff; nephew RE Hall and his wife Rebecca; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews spread across Colorado, Texas, Arizona, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Florida. She is predeceased by her husband, William C. Hall, her parents, and her step-grandson, Jack Carter.
   Ruthanna’s legacy is one of love, laughter, and a life well-lived. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered in the hearts of those fortunate enough to have known her. Oma, rest in peace. We love you.
   Please contribute to the Lake Fork Community Foundation in Ruthanna’s memory.