Ruth Bennett Rodwick, 92
Ruth Bennett Rodwick, born Feb. 23, 1920, passed away May 27, 2012, from complications due to advanced age, in her beloved home of Montana.
Ruth's life began as Ada Ruth Bennett on the kitchen table of her parents’ Buffalo, N.Y., home. Her mother Ada L. (Ross) Bennett encountered a difficult delivery during a raging Buffalo snowstorm, threatening the lives of mother and daughter. The attending nurse’s quick actions saved Ruth by placing her on the warm oven door, before tending to the mother. Many of Ruth's humorous life's stories revolved around this one simple life-saving event. Ruth and her younger sister Doris Bennett (Smith) resided in Williamsville, N.Y., attending The Park School of Buffalo.
After World War II, Ruth met and later married Capt. John Edward Rodwick, also of Buffalo. Together they had three sons, residing in Orchard Park, N.Y., where she lovingly raised her family before taking to the skies to solo in the family’s Cessna 182. Later, moving to Boynton Beach, Fla., she reveled in the warm sunshine, consumed great seafood and hung out with her grandchildren after her divorce.
Ruth spent many a hot Florida summer in Montana, where the skies are big and the temperatures are much more pleasing. Bigfork, with its varied culinary attractions and the lure of the Performing Arts Center, became her go-to location whenever in the Flathead Valley. Having two sons and four grandchildren in the area gave Ruth plenty of reasons to finally move here in 2000. In between visiting her family, she liked to shop, tour the various galleries, collect Western art, go to Sizzler for lunch or up to the Whitefish Lake Restaurant for a fireside dinner. Ruth could be spotted driving her Maxima all over the valley in search of a good doctor, nutritionist or exceptional fruits and vegetables to run through her turbo juicer!
Failing eyesight forced her to sell the beloved car and move into Buffalo Hill Terrace. This change in her lifestyle only served to accentuate her role as a tireless warrior for nutrition and natural medicine issues. The friends she made while living at the Terrace were a constant source of support to her. The love and kindness she offered to her family, friends and workers were always very apparent to those who knew and respected her.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, and Doris B. Smith, her sister.
She is leaving behind her three sons, John E. Rodwick and spouse Holly Hand of Kalispell, William F. Rodwick and spouse Jan of Smithville, Texas, and Dale L. Rodwick and spouse Susan of Creston; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Ruth did it her way, and will be missed greatly because of this strong personal attribute.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to The Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts.
A private celebration of Ruth's life will be held on a warm summer day.