Ruth Ann Boyd went to meet her Lord on July 13, 2011 from complications of cancer. She was surrounded by her family at the time of her passing. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Donald R. Boyd and daughters: Ann Davis of New Plymouth, Idaho; Linn Smith of Cuenca, Equador; Karen Viehweg of Garden Valley, Idaho; Susan Molchan of Boise, Idaho and Kathleen Ashbrook of Cuenca, Equador. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Don and Chris Morehouse, Jared Davis, Erika and Margaret Molchan, Krystal Stotzer, Alenya Kamaile and Lisa Ashbrook and three great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers: Paul Kershisnik and Richard Kershisnik.

Ruth was born April 22, 1932 in Burley, Idaho, to Frank and Luella Kershisnik. She grew up in Boise, but called Weiser, Idaho, her hometown where she attended high school and married Don Boyd. Don joined the US Air Force after they were married, and Ruth settled and resettled her family at various air bases over the next 20 plus years, mostly in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Following Don’s retirement from the USAF, they lived in Boise, Weiser and Ontario before moving to their ranchette in Vale, Oregon, where they bred and raised quarter horses.

Ruth enjoyed the outdoors, camping, hunting and fishing.  She was an avid gardener, master seamstress, and enjoyed trying new recipes. She was active in the local Extension Club, an avid reader and member of the Vale Book Club, and a tough opponent at card games. She loved traveling, and enjoyed many adventures with her daughters and their families around the US and abroad, her most memorable being her trip to the Holy Land where she was re-baptized in the Jordan River.

She held various jobs over the years, her most memorable being with the Anchorage Police Department when she made the front page of the Anchorage Times, photographed placing a ticket on the unlawfully parked car of the Alaskan Governor. She made every holiday of the year a special event, creating many memories held dear by her family. She taught her girls to be independent, honest, caring of others, especially those less fortunate and to love animals.

Ruth was blessed by her many friends and wonderful neighbors in and around Vale, and was so thankful for all the help she received from everyone.  She accepted her illness gracefully, knowing she was in the Lord’s hands. Ruth conveys to her family and friends from a poem, “If tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart, for every time you think of me, please know I’m in your heart.”  There will be celebrating in heaven and she will be missed by those who lost her too soon.

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