Age 100, was preceded in death by Richard Hunt, her beloved husband of 60 years, and is survived by her daughters: Lynn Hunt (spouse Margaret Jacob) of Los Angeles, Lee Hunt (spouse David Knott) of Portland, OR and Jane Hunt of Orange, CA; grandchildren: Lucien Jacky of Orange, CA, Clare Jacky (spouse Abigail Stoddard) of Minneapolis, Aaron Knott of Portland, OR; great grandson, Oliver Jacky of Orange, CA; and three foster daughters: Joy Perez of Little Canada, Gisele Hayes of West St Paul and Terry Link of Rochester.

Ruby was born in Saint Paul, graduated from Monroe High School as valedictorian in 1942, and considered the League of Women Voters her alma mater. After the start of World War II she worked for the Corps of Engineers as an office clerk in the Panama Canal Zone. There, she met and married Richard Hunt who also worked for the Corps. After the war they returned to Saint Paul where Richard went into the electrical business and later founded Hunt Electric. While raising their three daughters, Ruby became active in civic and political activities. After leadership roles in PTA and the League of Women Voters she chaired the Saint Paul Charter Commission when it presented the strong-mayor form of government to the voters, which the voters then approved. With the new form of government in place she was elected to the Saint Paul City Council where she served 10 years.

She was then elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners where she served 12 years. Structure and organization of government were a continuing interest for her as she played a role in changing the Saint Paul-Ramsey Medical Center into what is now Regions, a private hospital.

While in elective office she served on the Port Authority, Metropolitan Airports Commission, the Minnesota League of Cities, and the National League of Cities. She also served on the Group Health Board, the Health Partners Board, the Saint Joseph’s Hospital Board of Trustees, and Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.

In 1994 she was named by the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce as its Great Living Saint Paulite. In 1998 she was named Politician of the Year by “Politics in Minnesota”. Hamline University gave her their first Women in Public Service award in 2012, and then in 2014 they established the Ruby Hunt Endowed Scholarship.

A memorial service will be held January 17, 2025 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 South Snelling Ave., Saint Paul, at 1:00 p.m. with visitation the hour before and a reception after at the church.

Memorials preferred to Gloria Dei; Ruby Hunt Scholarship, Hamline University, 1536 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul, 55104; or Episcopal Homes Foundation, 490 E. Lynhurst Ave., St. Paul, 55104. Per Ruby’s wishes her body was donated to the U of M Anatomy Bequest Program.