Ruth Marie (Hansen) Johnson, 92

Ruth Marie (Hansen) Johnson, 92, passed away Friday, Nov. 22, 2013, at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish. 

Ruth was born on Nov. 19, 1921, in Brigham City, Utah, to Alvin LaSalle Hansen and Vida Christina Packer Hansen. In 1932, her family moved to Monolith, Calif. After graduating eighth grade from Monolith Elementary (a two-room schoolhouse), Ruth rode the bus to Tehachapi High School four miles away.

A young gentleman, Chesley Marion Johnson, who also attended high school there, caught her fancy. It wasn’t until several years later when World War II broke out that the young couple heard wedding bells. On Jan. 4, 1943, they were wed. 

Ruth served as an air patroller during the war and would monitor and report every airplane she spotted that flew over the California Valley where she resided, for a four-hour shift each day. She served on the Women’s Ambulance and Defense Corps as well. Chesley, flew blimps in the U.S. Navy, which guarded the U.S. coast and actually went down in one (due to possible pilot error) into the Atlantic Ocean near Maine. Chesley heard Ruth’s voice calling to him and with great difficulty he followed her voice that was enmeshed in a “light” and managed to escape his sinking airship. Only three men escaped that terrible day from a crew of 11.

The first born was a son, Michael, followed by another son Russell, a daughter Kathy and another son Cliff. The family was living in Santa Ana, Calif., and after the children were grown, Ruth and Chesley retired to Escondido, Calif. After Chesley passed away of heart failure in 1996, Ruth stayed in Escondido until she was made an offer she couldn’t refuse. Her son Russ and wife Linda were moving to Kalispell in early 2002 to be closer to a daughter and some grandchildren. Ruth, missing the snow and deer she loved from childhood memories of her days in Utah, gleefully accepted!

Ruth was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life and was a Relief Society president and primary president; and the list goes on and on.

Ruth loved all kinds of crafting, but china painting, ceramics and doll making were her primary hobbies. Reading and helping the Boy and Girl Scouts also filled her days.

Ruth is survived by her sons, Michael and Russell, and daughter, Kathy; two granddaughters, Tiffeny Taylor and Vanessa Pottorff; stepgranddaughters, Sherry Iavicoli and Carolyn Lopez; and three adopted grandchildren, Krystyne, Garrett and Kimberly; two great-grandchildren, Clayton and Hannah Taylor; and five stepgreat-grandchildren, Paulette, Annalise, Nick and Vince Iavicoli and Jake Bellamy; and her sister, Lois Elms. 

Preceding her in death were her husband Chesley; son Cliff; her sisters, Vera Hicks and Beth Anthony; and both sets of parents.

Our family wishes to thank Ed and Lana Toren and Kari and Skip Zeiler and the Beehive Assisted Living Facility for their love and prayers and friendship during her life.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Ruth’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Ruth’s guest book, offer condolences and share memories.