Ruth Ryste

Ruth Anlaug Ryste (24 July 1932 – 21 September 2023) was a Norwegian trade unionist and politician for the Labour Party.

Ryste was born in Bamble. She finished commerce school in 1950, and from 1950 to 1970 she worked with welfare in Bamble municipality. She was a deputy member of Bamble municipal council from 1967 to 1971. From 1970 to 1973 she was a secretary in the trade union Norwegian Civil Service Union, and also supervisory board member of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions from 1969 to 1975. She was a personal secretary to the Minister of Administration and Consumer Affairs from 1 January 1973 to 1 January 1974, and from 1975 to 1976 she was a secretary in Statstjenestemannskartellet.

From 1976 to 1979 she served as the Minister of Social Affairs in Nordli's Cabinet. During her tenure, the government notably passed legislation allowing self-determined abortion.