Thomas, Ruth

Ruth Thomas, 88, of Camp Tuffit, Lake Mary Ronan passed away on Wednesday, October 1st , 2008 following a short illness.

She was born March 16, 1920 in Olden, Texas to Ralph and Lela Sines. Her father was a roughneck and followed the drilling rigs from Texas to Oklahoma to Alberta to Montana, so Ruth got to see a lot of this country at a young age.

Ruth graduated from high school in Cut Bank, Montana and shortly after met her husband Jerome while on a vacation at Camp Tuffit. They were married on September 3, 1937 and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary a few months before Jerome's passing in December of 2007.

She worked side by side with Jerome operating Camp Tuffit resort from the early 40's until they retired.

She loved birds, tending flowers and puttering in her yard. Ruth was a member of the Chief Cliff Homemakers Club and was instrumental in bringing to publication a history of the small communities nestled along the west shore of Flathead Lake titled "Chief Cliff Country."

Ruth and Jerome enjoyed traveling and frequently would spend a winter month in Hawaii or Arizona.

Her greatest pleasure was spending time with her grandchildren. She was famous for remembering something cute a small child would say and then using it in conversation year after year.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Jerome, by her parents and an older brother. She is survived by sons Gary (Carol), Mark (Dianne) of Camp Tuffit and daughter Jeanne Maas (Lynn) of Los Alamos, New Mexico. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

The family suggests that any memorial gifts be given in Ruth's name to the Polson City Library. A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 6th at 1:00 pm at Grogan Funeral Home with interment to follow at Lake View Cemetery. A Reception will follow at St. Joseph Assisted Living, 11 17th Ave. East in Polson.