Jennifer ‘Jiff’ Denise Ruther, 64
Jennifer “Jiff” Denise Ruther was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and daughter. She left this world to be in the arms of Jesus on Feb. 3, 2022, at age 64 after a courageous, eight-month battle with aggressive lymphoma.
She was born to James Cox and Hazel Hamilton on June 15, 1957, in Modesto, California. She often reminisced about her childhood spent next door to her beloved Grannie and Grandad. She fondly recalled listening to the Oakland A’s baseball team under the Chinaberry tree out in the yard with her Granddad or snitching pie crust from her Grannie’s kitchen. At age 10, her family moved to Columbia Falls where her father worked for the city police department.
After graduating from Columbia Falls High School in 1975, Jennifer married Dale Orem. Together, they had three children, Sarah, Alyson and Beau. Jennifer was a dedicated stay-at-home mom –— her greatest ambition was to create an idyllic “Little House on the Prairie” childhood on the farm for her kids and for them to follow Jesus. Jennifer especially enjoyed playing the piano, gardening and sewing. Later, she happily cared for her sister, Anita’s, eldest children, Justin and Travis, out on the farm as well, and was delighted to bring her Grandad to Montana to spend his last years near her at the Montana Veterans Home.
She worked for many years at First Citizens and Glacier Bank in Columbia Falls where she met her husband, Rich Ruther. They married in 2008. She retired in 2019, excited to once again devote her time to keeping house. She and her husband Rich designed and built their beautiful dream home in the country in 2020 just down the road from her grandchildren. Nana’s house was frequented by her five grandchildren who knew they could always find a cookie in the pantry or an ice cream bar in the freezer. She taught her grandkids her favorite songs on the piano, took up sewing again and began a little garden.
Jennifer was a romantic. She loved beautiful, feminine things like pink roses and dainty ballet slippers, pretty perfume bottles and sparkly jewelry. And she enjoyed creating beauty too. She often found joy in the beauty around her — in the colors of the sunset or the way the wind moved the trees outside her kitchen window. She loved the “Andy Griffith Show,” Roy Rogers, and songs from the ‘40s. She collected antiques and enjoyed hunting for treasures. She couldn’t resist kittens.
Most of all, Jennifer’s life was defined by her faith in Christ. She spent much of her free time listening to sermons and studying Scripture. She was fervent in her prayers for her family. She had a quiet, gentle spirit. She offered others grace and forgiveness. Throughout her battle with cancer, she often turned to Philippians 4 for strength, and it was clear she felt the peace of God.
Jennifer was preceded in death by her grandparents; her sister, Cyd; and her stepbrothers Randy, Michael and Daniel.
She is survived by her husband Rich of Columbia Falls and his three children, Krista, Luke and Elisha; her mother Hazel Curtis (husband Jack); father James Cox (Louise); brother Jim Cox (wife Debra); sister Anita Kauffman (husband Dave); daughter Sarah O’Rourke (husband Ryan); daughter Alyson Dorr (husband Casey); son Beau Orem (wife Amy); her grandchildren, Elaina, Evelynne, Henry, Madison and Adeline; step-grandchildren, Isaac, Kacey, Chloe, Christian and Xavier; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Happy Trails, Jiff, until we meet again.
A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the First Baptist Church in Columbia Falls with a light reception to follow. Flowers will be brought to the Montana Veterans Home after the service.