NORWAY – Ruth E. Knightly Lacko, 96, of Norway, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Stephens Memorial Hospital, with her family by her side.

She was born in Otisfield, on Feb. 27, 1912, the daughter of Elias and Hilda Makinen Johnson. She received her education in Otisfield and graduated from Oxford High School.

She was married to Lewis E. Knightly in 1931; he passed away in 1950. She married Andrew N. Lacko Jr. in 1972, and he passed away on April 21, 1995.

She attended the Second Congregational Church of Norway, was a member of Oxford Chapter, O.E.S. and was a past member of the Norway Grange. She was a member of the Norway/Paris Senior Citizens Club, Lake Thompson Senior Citizens, Oxford County Senior Citizens and Norway Extension group. She was also a member of the Finnish American Heritage Society of Maine.

She was employed at Wilson’s Dollar store for more than 20 years and she helped run Whitman’s Filling Station with her husband for many years. She enjoyed doing volunteer work.

Survivors include three daughters, Betty L. Roubal of Eugene, Ore., Hilda D. Rice of Norway and Jacksonville Beach, Fla., and Laura A. Morse and her husband, Ronald, of Norway and Torrington, Conn.; 12 grandchildren, Jeff and Vivian Roubal of Martinez, Calif., Gregory Roubal of Bangkok, Thailand, Roxanne Gillespie of Eugene, Ore., Lewis and Chris Roubal of Santa Cruz, Calif., Rhonda and Allen Stafford of Walkhill, N.Y., Robert and Madeline Rice of Lee High Acres, Fla., Russell Rice of Miami, Fla., Randall Rice of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Natalie and Richard Donais of West Suffield, Conn., Jay and Maryann Morse of Torrington, Conn., Frank and Maria Morse of Rocky Hill, Conn., and Todd and Michelle Morse of Newnan, Ga..; 23 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a sister, Maria; three brothers, Ralph, Walter and Reino; a grandson, Renwick Rice; and two sons-in-law, Edward Roubal and Robert Rice.