Ruth May Widdowson Poston, 83

Ruth May Widdowson Poston passed away on July 28, 2009, at Parkview Acres Care and Rehab in Dillon. Ruth was born to Carl and Berntina Widdowson on April 16, 1926, in Kalispell, the oldest of four girls.

She spent most of her life in the Flathead Valley, attending grade school at the Egan School and graduating from Flathead County High School. Upon graduating from high school, Ruth attended nursing school in Missoula.

In 1946, she married Roger L. Poston who was in the Marines at the time. Ruth and Roger spent most of their first two years of marriage in North Carolina where Roger was stationed in the Marines. During this time their children Ray and Patty were born. After Roger's discharge from the service they lived in Kalispell and Evergreen before building their home on part of the family farm in the Fairmont Egan area.

Ruth loved to sew and was always making something for her children and grandchildren. She was an avid gardener and always had beautiful flowers and a large garden. Ruth loved family and friends and was always there to lend a hand in the time of need. She spent several years helping out at the food bank. After Roger's retirement they enjoyed traveling and especially liked to rock hound around Montana and neighboring states, accumulating a large collection of rocks and fossils. Photography became a passion of hers, filling countless albums.

In October of 2004, Ruth moved to Dillon to be near her daughter Patty. Going for rides remained one of her favorite pasttimes up until the last few months.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Roger, in 2001.

She is survived by her son, Ray, and wife, Karen Poston, of Elma, Wash.; daughter, Patty, and husband, Gary, of Lima; sisters, Betty and Duane Bitney, Carlene Peters and Marie Peters, all of Kalispell; grandchildren, Amanda and Justin Linson of Redmond, Ore., Jeff and Michelle Poston of McCleary, Wash., Sarah and Dave Miller of Dillon, Lydia Mild of Dupuyer, and Luke Mild of Lima; as well as four great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews who meant so much to her.

A graveside memorial for both Ruth and Roger will be held at 3 p.m., Aug. 29, at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell. A luncheon will be held at Sandy and Larry Heuscher's home following the service.

Memorials can be made to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church or the Food Bank.