Ruth Craigo

Ruth Craigo was born to Ruby and Aaron Craigo on Nov. 14, 1928, in Earth, Texas.

After graduating from high school, she went on to get a two-year degree from Plainview Bible College. While there, she excelled in sports — mainly basketball and tennis.

In 1948, she met her husband Jim when a year later they married on Jan. 23, 1949. They had a son, Mike, born May 26, 1950, and a daughter, Gail, born June 29, 1951.

In February 1964, we moved from Texas to Montana where Mom and Dad were happy and Mike and Gail were not. While Mike was serving in the U.S. Army in Hawaii, he and his first wife had a son, Brian, born on July 4, 1975. At age 12, Brian passed on from muscular dystrophy.

On Nov. 11, 1975, Gail’s first son, Hoke, was born; followed by Jesse on May 30, 1977. On Sept. 1, 1981, Mike had another son, Justin, followed by Melissa in June of 1985.

Then, Jim and Ruth were blessed by seven great-grandchildren: Mike’s — Alexandria, Kristanna and Tayven; Gail’s — Chase, 19 (sophomore in college), Tucker, Stran and Hanna.

Hoke and Jesse were involved in high school and college rodeo, and they still rodeo together. Both boys graduated from U. of M. Western–Dillon and Hoke is currently pursuing his master’s degree in high school history in Billings.

Ruth is preceded in death by both of her parents, brothers, Aaron, Fay, Jim and Jay, and sisters, Elizabeth, Estelle and Dee. There is one remaining sister who lives in Lubbock, Texas.