Ruth Headapohl

Ruth was born energetically and joyously into this world to parents Elwin and Ida Harbine on Feb. 24, 1926, in Oakland, California. She was the eldest child and treasured the title. She passed away gracefully in the arms of her eldest daughter, Dana, on Nov. 3, 2014, in Missoula at the age of 89.

Ruth was the wife of William Headapohl who passed away Aug. 26, 2008. She is survived by her brothers, Pat, Mike and Chic Harbine; and her sister, Linda Martin.

Her five devoted children are Dana Headapohl, M.D., St. Patrick Hospital, writer and medical consultant residing in Missoula with husband Laurence Martin, M.D.; Heidi Headapohl, real estate developer, consultant and artist residing in Berkeley, California, with husband Avi Atid; Will Headapohl, technology entrepreneur residing in Leucadia, California, with wife Carlie Headapohl; Wendy Downey, home designer builder residing in Butte with husband Tom Downey; and Lucy Goodman, administrative assistant, Occupational Health Department at St. Patrick Hospital and pet advocate residing in Missoula.

Grandchildren, who have given her much joy and entertainment throughout the years, include Patrick and Whitney Martin, Tal and Mayan Atid, Hunter and Travis Headapohl, Sarah and Mac Mackay, Annie and Chad Mihelich, Beth and Mike Paffhausen, Levi and Corie Downey, and Jason and Jessica Goodman. Great-grandchildren are Connor, Liam, Lauren, Jackson, Avery, Zane, Halle, Ethan, Will, Mick, Piper Grace and Sawyer. Ruth loved them all. She was a mother to her core.

Born a product of the rolling golden hills, expansive blue skies and the individualism and innovation of California, her early years were happily spent in Oakland, San Francisco, Ukiah and Hopland, California. Some of her happiest memories were of carefree sunny days riding her circus pony Cuba over the hills and valleys of Rancho de Soleil, where the family lived outside of Hoplin. Ruth truly loved extreme exercise and the open air. She inherited her father's adventurous spirit and love of extreme exercise. From her mother, she inherited her artistic talents, green thumb in the garden and true love of being a mother. She was a free spirit, fearless, artistic and athletic, with a huge interest and curiosity in people and history. Her curiosity and subsequent research never waned.

In high school, Ruth found her niche in drama and speech giving. She loved to emote. Before Ruth finished high school, the family loaded up an oversized truck with four kids, two dogs, many belongings and some favorite California plants, then camped and caravaned from California to Montana in search of new beginnings. The family landed in Missoula, where Ruth was sent on an important mission riding her bicycle to scout out and secure a house to rent, which she did successfully. Her parents counted on her for many assignments. She adored Missoula life! Eventually the family moved to the Lazy M Ranch on the Clark Fork riverfront near Plains. Ruth's father Elwin had run in and finished a cross-country foot race from San Francisco to New York. On his return journey, made on horseback, he scouted land for ranching in Montana.

After leaving high school and ranch life, Ruth worked at the Capitol building in Helena assisting in the state-sponsored physical fitness program. She was a lifelong an exercise enthusiast. Her sports included biking, jogging, hiking, swimming, snow skiing, water skiing and golf, which she took up at age 82.

She attended classes at the university in Missoula and then took the summer off to work in Yellowstone Park, where she had the time of her life climbing, hiking, swimming and dancing. Ruth always insisted on climbing to the top of the mountain, usually straight up the side. In her later years, her daughter Heidi recalls, she still pointed out the mountains she wanted to climb.

In Missoula, while working at the University of Montana, Ruthie met Bill, who was from the East Coast and traveling for his publishing job throughout the Northwest. He loved her beautiful big blue eyes. Bill swept her off her feet, convinced her he was the one for her and whisked her off to one of his favorite places, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where they were married. They both loved Montana and made their life here while producing and raising five kids. Over the years, they lived with their family in Ryan Dam, Great Falls, Billings, Helena and Missoula.

Ruth was an avid gardener, producing huge crops of vegetables from her backyard plots. The family grew up on wonderful organic garden produce. Each fall, she would set up an assembly line for pie making with the kids and fabricate and bake several hundred fruit pies to freeze and eat for the winter.

She was an oil painter specializing in portraits. She loved antiquing and spotting bargains and refurbishing items. She compiled great collections of unusual items, which she used to make her homes truly beautiful and unique. She was a gifted interior and garden designer. Ruth had superhuman strength while working tirelessly on her projects. Her children called her a force of nature. She loved history and worked at Helena's museum as a docent. She led tours on the tour train in Helena. Ruth was always reading and studying history.

Ruth gave her family warmth, love, security, an appreciation for beauty and nature, a love of exercise and a foundation on which they could depend on to build their own families. She never wavered in her support and love. They will always carry this in their hearts and remember with extreme gratitude.

The family would like to thank her caring physicians, Dr. Mike Caldwell and Dr. Bill Reynolds. They would like all the staff of the Village Senior Residence to know how important they were to Ruth and the family. They made great personal contributions to Ruth, became her friends and the family's friends. That will not be forgotten. Our gratitude also extends to Rocky Mountain Hospice, which eased the way for Ruth and who we could not have done without. We thank you all from our hearts.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, with refreshments following. Service to be held at the Garden City Funeral Home, 1705 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802; 543-4190. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Plains Cemetery.
Read Ruth Headapohl's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.