Ruth Lorraine Richards

MISSOULA – Ruth Lorraine Richards, 88, died surrounded by family and friends at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2013, following a brief illness. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sunset Funeral Home, 7405 Mullan Road.

On April 28, 1924, Ruth was born to parents, Julia and Edward Person in Oak Park, Ill. As an adult, Ruth labored briefly in a Chicago factory that produced plastic rocking horses. For United Airlines, both in Chicago, and later in Cheyenne, Wyo., Ruth logged airplane parts used in the repair of United's aircraft. At Electro-Motive Division of General Motors on Chicago's South Side, Ruth worked in the offices for many years, eventually meeting her husband-to-be.

The main focus of her life, however, was caring for others. She had four children, whom she raised largely as a single mother. Two children were born of her first marriage to Bob Knight of Bloomington, Ind., which later ended in divorce. She married S. Allen Richards of Elmhurst, Ill., in 1959, and they went on to have two more children. In 1973, Ruth followed her two eldest children westward, from Illinois to Missoula. She brought with her the younger children and her aging parents for whom she was a patient and loving caregiver.

Here, it was her constant joy to live in a place with mountain views in every direction. For 39 years, Ruth enjoyed the antics of deer, raccoons, foxes and marmots. At one time, a jackrabbit even befriended her. Stevensville's Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, the National Bison Range in Moiese and the duck pond off 39th Street in Missoula were just a few of her favorite locations.

Throughout her life, it was in Ruth's nature to nurture and encourage the talents of her offspring. She will be remembered as a kind and generous soul, a longtime member of Calvary Chapel of Missoula, a devout Christian with a deep faith, who well into her last days continued to hone her Bible skills.

Ruth had many hobbies and interests. Like her mother, she was a longtime member of Mallwalkers, an indoor walking club based at Southgate Mall in Missoula. An avid gardener, Ruth at one time wanted to be a florist. She knew four languages and in earlier years had hoped to become a translator. She loved crossword puzzles and television programs like Lawrence Welk and Jeopardy. Her encyclopedic knowledge of old movies was impressive.

She traveled widely, seeing much of the United States and parts of Canada. In her later years, a high point of her life was her trip to England, Wales and South Africa, where she saw lions, penguins and Southern right whales.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Allen; her father, Edward Person and her mother, Julia Person. She is survived by her children, Bob of Cortland, Ill., Judy of Superior, Sam of Martinez, Calif., and Katie, of Olney, Md., as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Missoula Food Bank or the Humane Society of Western Montana.

Read Ruth Richards's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.