Ruth Ethlyn Griffin was born in Rollins, Montana to John and Elsie Treva Grace Griffin on August 28, 1917.
Ruth had an older sister Daisy Letha Griffin. Daisy preceded her in death in 1903 as an infant. Daisy was just over one year old and died of an unknown illness. Although Ruth never knew Daisy she always loved her "baby" sister.
Ruth had fond memories of her childhood in Rollins next to beautiful Flathead Lake. She would love to reminiscence about "Momma" and "Daddy" and their adventures in that rural and rugged area of Montana. Even today, Rollins has a population of just 232 people.
Ruth attended elementary school in Rollins until the second grade. The little family of three then moved to Kalispell, MT., just seven miles north of Flathead Lake. It was a larger town where there was more work for "Daddy" to do. Ruth attended middle school in Kalispell until she was in the fifth grade. Mr. Griffin's work took them back to Rollins where Ruth completed her junior high studies.
To attend High School, Ruth rode the bus forty miles into Polson, Montana. It was at Polson that Ruth met and married her high school sweetheart John Learn. John and Ruth were married on August 28, 1934, Ruth's seventeenth birthday.
Ruth and "Johnnie" (as she affectionately called him), lived in a log cabin on his parents' cattle ranch in Dayton, Montana. When Ruth was pregnant with her first child, she and Johnnie moved back to Kalispell to be nearer to the town doctor. Their first child, Gaybeth Ethlyn Learn was born December 20, 1935. Ruth and Johnnie had two more children. Her only son, Gene Alvin Learn was born December 28, 1938, and the baby Asenith Nadine Learn was born July 19, 1941.
As it sometimes happens with young love, Ruth and Johnnie's marriage didn't last. Ruth re-married Norman E. Clausen in San Diego, California. Ruth loved the ocean and many years later her grandchildren recall spending fun afternoons with "grandma" on the beach.
Ruth and Norman had their first child in August of 1944. Norma Ruth Clausen was born in Paradise Valley, CA on Ruth's twenty-seventh birthday, August 28, 1944. Ruth and her family moved to Pasadena, CA where Norman worked in the growing construction business. In 1946 Ruth and Norman's second daughter Karen Delores Clausen was born on March fourth. Eventually the family of four moved to Baldwin Park where they lived together for eleven years.
Ruth and Norman divorced in 1961, to support her family Ruth went to work for "Short Stuff" as a seamstress. Ruth worked long hours sewing one-of-a-kind children's outfits. Her strong work ethic soon moved her to a "Floor Lady" position where she managed all of the employee's daily workload.
It was during these difficult times that Norma asked her mother to attend the First Baptist Church of Baldwin Park with her, where Ruth became a born again Christian.
In 1968 Ruth and her brand new son-in-law were able to purchase their own home together. Ruth, her daughter Karen, Karen's husband Bill, and Ruth's new grandson Billy now lived in San Dimas, California, a tiny suburb of Los Angeles.
Ruth went to work for Betty Oden in Walnut, CA as a bookkeeper. Ruth worked for Betty Oden alongside her daughter Norma for twenty years, until 1992. Even after retiring Ruth continued to work as a part-time bookkeeper for Emmanuel Baptist Church in Azusa, CA. Ruth remained a member of Emmanuel until her passing. She loved to play old hymns on the piano at her family's home in San Dimas; she also taught Sunday school and had many good friends, one of whom was Dorothy Iford. Dorothy and Ruth were two spunky old gals who loved travelling and camping even though they were well into their sixties.
In 2001, Ruth went to live with her daughter Norma and granddaughter Malissa. Norma's farmhouse in Centralia, Washington was a place where Ruth could spend the cool summers away from the L.A. heat. Ruth lived on the "farm" for five years and loved the open land, blue skies, and lots of cows, which reminded her of her childhood back in Montana.
Ruth came back to live with her family in San Dimas, CA in 2006. It was at that time, that it was painfully discovered Ruth had Alzheimer's disease. Ruth lived with her daughter Karen and her family, who faithfully took care of her until she went home to be with the Lord. Ruth passed peacefully in Karen's arms at 7:30 A.M. Thursday October 29, 2009, two months and one day after her 92nd birthday.
Ruth is survived by her five children; Gaybeth Ethlyn Cleveland (Robert), Gene Learn, Asenith Nadine Crabtree (William), Norma Wilke, and Karen Olson (Gene), seventeen Grandchildren and eighteen Great-grandchildren.
Ruth had an older sister Daisy Letha Griffin. Daisy preceded her in death in 1903 as an infant. Daisy was just over one year old and died of an unknown illness. Although Ruth never knew Daisy she always loved her "baby" sister.
Ruth had fond memories of her childhood in Rollins next to beautiful Flathead Lake. She would love to reminiscence about "Momma" and "Daddy" and their adventures in that rural and rugged area of Montana. Even today, Rollins has a population of just 232 people.
Ruth attended elementary school in Rollins until the second grade. The little family of three then moved to Kalispell, MT., just seven miles north of Flathead Lake. It was a larger town where there was more work for "Daddy" to do. Ruth attended middle school in Kalispell until she was in the fifth grade. Mr. Griffin's work took them back to Rollins where Ruth completed her junior high studies.
To attend High School, Ruth rode the bus forty miles into Polson, Montana. It was at Polson that Ruth met and married her high school sweetheart John Learn. John and Ruth were married on August 28, 1934, Ruth's seventeenth birthday.
Ruth and "Johnnie" (as she affectionately called him), lived in a log cabin on his parents' cattle ranch in Dayton, Montana. When Ruth was pregnant with her first child, she and Johnnie moved back to Kalispell to be nearer to the town doctor. Their first child, Gaybeth Ethlyn Learn was born December 20, 1935. Ruth and Johnnie had two more children. Her only son, Gene Alvin Learn was born December 28, 1938, and the baby Asenith Nadine Learn was born July 19, 1941.
As it sometimes happens with young love, Ruth and Johnnie's marriage didn't last. Ruth re-married Norman E. Clausen in San Diego, California. Ruth loved the ocean and many years later her grandchildren recall spending fun afternoons with "grandma" on the beach.
Ruth and Norman had their first child in August of 1944. Norma Ruth Clausen was born in Paradise Valley, CA on Ruth's twenty-seventh birthday, August 28, 1944. Ruth and her family moved to Pasadena, CA where Norman worked in the growing construction business. In 1946 Ruth and Norman's second daughter Karen Delores Clausen was born on March fourth. Eventually the family of four moved to Baldwin Park where they lived together for eleven years.
Ruth and Norman divorced in 1961, to support her family Ruth went to work for "Short Stuff" as a seamstress. Ruth worked long hours sewing one-of-a-kind children's outfits. Her strong work ethic soon moved her to a "Floor Lady" position where she managed all of the employee's daily workload.
It was during these difficult times that Norma asked her mother to attend the First Baptist Church of Baldwin Park with her, where Ruth became a born again Christian.
In 1968 Ruth and her brand new son-in-law were able to purchase their own home together. Ruth, her daughter Karen, Karen's husband Bill, and Ruth's new grandson Billy now lived in San Dimas, California, a tiny suburb of Los Angeles.
Ruth went to work for Betty Oden in Walnut, CA as a bookkeeper. Ruth worked for Betty Oden alongside her daughter Norma for twenty years, until 1992. Even after retiring Ruth continued to work as a part-time bookkeeper for Emmanuel Baptist Church in Azusa, CA. Ruth remained a member of Emmanuel until her passing. She loved to play old hymns on the piano at her family's home in San Dimas; she also taught Sunday school and had many good friends, one of whom was Dorothy Iford. Dorothy and Ruth were two spunky old gals who loved travelling and camping even though they were well into their sixties.
In 2001, Ruth went to live with her daughter Norma and granddaughter Malissa. Norma's farmhouse in Centralia, Washington was a place where Ruth could spend the cool summers away from the L.A. heat. Ruth lived on the "farm" for five years and loved the open land, blue skies, and lots of cows, which reminded her of her childhood back in Montana.
Ruth came back to live with her family in San Dimas, CA in 2006. It was at that time, that it was painfully discovered Ruth had Alzheimer's disease. Ruth lived with her daughter Karen and her family, who faithfully took care of her until she went home to be with the Lord. Ruth passed peacefully in Karen's arms at 7:30 A.M. Thursday October 29, 2009, two months and one day after her 92nd birthday.
Ruth is survived by her five children; Gaybeth Ethlyn Cleveland (Robert), Gene Learn, Asenith Nadine Crabtree (William), Norma Wilke, and Karen Olson (Gene), seventeen Grandchildren and eighteen Great-grandchildren.
Ruth Ethlyn Griffin was born in Rollins, Montana to John and Elsie Treva Grace Griffin on August 28, 1917.
Ruth had an older sister Daisy Letha Griffin. Daisy preceded her in death in 1903 as an infant. Daisy was just over one year old and died of an unknown illness. Although Ruth never knew Daisy she always loved her "baby" sister.
Ruth had fond memories of her childhood in Rollins next to beautiful Flathead Lake. She would love to reminiscence about "Momma" and "Daddy" and their adventures in that rural and rugged area of Montana. Even today, Rollins has a population of just 232 people.
Ruth attended elementary school in Rollins until the second grade. The little family of three then moved to Kalispell, MT., just seven miles north of Flathead Lake. It was a larger town where there was more work for "Daddy" to do. Ruth attended middle school in Kalispell until she was in the fifth grade. Mr. Griffin's work took them back to Rollins where Ruth completed her junior high studies.
To attend High School, Ruth rode the bus forty miles into Polson, Montana. It was at Polson that Ruth met and married her high school sweetheart John Learn. John and Ruth were married on August 28, 1934, Ruth's seventeenth birthday.
Ruth and "Johnnie" (as she affectionately called him), lived in a log cabin on his parents' cattle ranch in Dayton, Montana. When Ruth was pregnant with her first child, she and Johnnie moved back to Kalispell to be nearer to the town doctor. Their first child, Gaybeth Ethlyn Learn was born December 20, 1935. Ruth and Johnnie had two more children. Her only son, Gene Alvin Learn was born December 28, 1938, and the baby Asenith Nadine Learn was born July 19, 1941.
As it sometimes happens with young love, Ruth and Johnnie's marriage didn't last. Ruth re-married Norman E. Clausen in San Diego, California. Ruth loved the ocean and many years later her grandchildren recall spending fun afternoons with "grandma" on the beach.
Ruth and Norman had their first child in August of 1944. Norma Ruth Clausen was born in Paradise Valley, CA on Ruth's twenty-seventh birthday, August 28, 1944. Ruth and her family moved to Pasadena, CA where Norman worked in the growing construction business. In 1946 Ruth and Norman's second daughter Karen Delores Clausen was born on March fourth. Eventually the family of four moved to Baldwin Park where they lived together for eleven years.
Ruth and Norman divorced in 1961, to support her family Ruth went to work for "Short Stuff" as a seamstress. Ruth worked long hours sewing one-of-a-kind children's outfits. Her strong work ethic soon moved her to a "Floor Lady" position where she managed all of the employee's daily workload.
It was during these difficult times that Norma asked her mother to attend the First Baptist Church of Baldwin Park with her, where Ruth became a born again Christian.
In 1968 Ruth and her brand new son-in-law were able to purchase their own home together. Ruth, her daughter Karen, Karen's husband Bill, and Ruth's new grandson Billy now lived in San Dimas, California, a tiny suburb of Los Angeles.
Ruth went to work for Betty Oden in Walnut, CA as a bookkeeper. Ruth worked for Betty Oden alongside her daughter Norma for twenty years, until 1992. Even after retiring Ruth continued to work as a part-time bookkeeper for Emmanuel Baptist Church in Azusa, CA. Ruth remained a member of Emmanuel until her passing. She loved to play old hymns on the piano at her family's home in San Dimas; she also taught Sunday school and had many good friends, one of whom was Dorothy Iford. Dorothy and Ruth were two spunky old gals who loved travelling and camping even though they were well into their sixties.
In 2001, Ruth went to live with her daughter Norma and granddaughter Malissa. Norma's farmhouse in Centralia, Washington was a place where Ruth could spend the cool summers away from the L.A. heat. Ruth lived on the "farm" for five years and loved the open land, blue skies, and lots of cows, which reminded her of her childhood back in Montana.
Ruth came back to live with her family in San Dimas, CA in 2006. It was at that time, that it was painfully discovered Ruth had Alzheimer's disease. Ruth lived with her daughter Karen and her family, who faithfully took care of her until she went home to be with the Lord. Ruth passed peacefully in Karen's arms at 7:30 A.M. Thursday October 29, 2009, two months and one day after her 92nd birthday.
Ruth is survived by her five children; Gaybeth Ethlyn Cleveland (Robert), Gene Learn, Asenith Nadine Crabtree (William), Norma Wilke, and Karen Olson (Gene), seventeen Grandchildren and eighteen Great-grandchildren.
Ruth had an older sister Daisy Letha Griffin. Daisy preceded her in death in 1903 as an infant. Daisy was just over one year old and died of an unknown illness. Although Ruth never knew Daisy she always loved her "baby" sister.
Ruth had fond memories of her childhood in Rollins next to beautiful Flathead Lake. She would love to reminiscence about "Momma" and "Daddy" and their adventures in that rural and rugged area of Montana. Even today, Rollins has a population of just 232 people.
Ruth attended elementary school in Rollins until the second grade. The little family of three then moved to Kalispell, MT., just seven miles north of Flathead Lake. It was a larger town where there was more work for "Daddy" to do. Ruth attended middle school in Kalispell until she was in the fifth grade. Mr. Griffin's work took them back to Rollins where Ruth completed her junior high studies.
To attend High School, Ruth rode the bus forty miles into Polson, Montana. It was at Polson that Ruth met and married her high school sweetheart John Learn. John and Ruth were married on August 28, 1934, Ruth's seventeenth birthday.
Ruth and "Johnnie" (as she affectionately called him), lived in a log cabin on his parents' cattle ranch in Dayton, Montana. When Ruth was pregnant with her first child, she and Johnnie moved back to Kalispell to be nearer to the town doctor. Their first child, Gaybeth Ethlyn Learn was born December 20, 1935. Ruth and Johnnie had two more children. Her only son, Gene Alvin Learn was born December 28, 1938, and the baby Asenith Nadine Learn was born July 19, 1941.
As it sometimes happens with young love, Ruth and Johnnie's marriage didn't last. Ruth re-married Norman E. Clausen in San Diego, California. Ruth loved the ocean and many years later her grandchildren recall spending fun afternoons with "grandma" on the beach.
Ruth and Norman had their first child in August of 1944. Norma Ruth Clausen was born in Paradise Valley, CA on Ruth's twenty-seventh birthday, August 28, 1944. Ruth and her family moved to Pasadena, CA where Norman worked in the growing construction business. In 1946 Ruth and Norman's second daughter Karen Delores Clausen was born on March fourth. Eventually the family of four moved to Baldwin Park where they lived together for eleven years.
Ruth and Norman divorced in 1961, to support her family Ruth went to work for "Short Stuff" as a seamstress. Ruth worked long hours sewing one-of-a-kind children's outfits. Her strong work ethic soon moved her to a "Floor Lady" position where she managed all of the employee's daily workload.
It was during these difficult times that Norma asked her mother to attend the First Baptist Church of Baldwin Park with her, where Ruth became a born again Christian.
In 1968 Ruth and her brand new son-in-law were able to purchase their own home together. Ruth, her daughter Karen, Karen's husband Bill, and Ruth's new grandson Billy now lived in San Dimas, California, a tiny suburb of Los Angeles.
Ruth went to work for Betty Oden in Walnut, CA as a bookkeeper. Ruth worked for Betty Oden alongside her daughter Norma for twenty years, until 1992. Even after retiring Ruth continued to work as a part-time bookkeeper for Emmanuel Baptist Church in Azusa, CA. Ruth remained a member of Emmanuel until her passing. She loved to play old hymns on the piano at her family's home in San Dimas; she also taught Sunday school and had many good friends, one of whom was Dorothy Iford. Dorothy and Ruth were two spunky old gals who loved travelling and camping even though they were well into their sixties.
In 2001, Ruth went to live with her daughter Norma and granddaughter Malissa. Norma's farmhouse in Centralia, Washington was a place where Ruth could spend the cool summers away from the L.A. heat. Ruth lived on the "farm" for five years and loved the open land, blue skies, and lots of cows, which reminded her of her childhood back in Montana.
Ruth came back to live with her family in San Dimas, CA in 2006. It was at that time, that it was painfully discovered Ruth had Alzheimer's disease. Ruth lived with her daughter Karen and her family, who faithfully took care of her until she went home to be with the Lord. Ruth passed peacefully in Karen's arms at 7:30 A.M. Thursday October 29, 2009, two months and one day after her 92nd birthday.
Ruth is survived by her five children; Gaybeth Ethlyn Cleveland (Robert), Gene Learn, Asenith Nadine Crabtree (William), Norma Wilke, and Karen Olson (Gene), seventeen Grandchildren and eighteen Great-grandchildren.
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