Margaret F. Ruyle

Margaret F. Ruyle, 94, passed away in Seattle, Washington on February 11th, 2015. She was born on the Fourth of July in 1920 to Oscar and Hanna Friedlund in Metaline, Washington. Margaret worked for a time as a teacher, but her real passion was her family. She was a loving mother and homemaker. Margaret is preceded in death by her husband, and is survived by 5 daughters and their families, which includes 12 grand-children and 3 great-grand-children. She will forever be loved and missed by those she leaves behind including many friends and relatives.

Margaret was born in a log cabin, the daughter of Swedish immigrants. She attended college at Eastern Washington State University in Cheney, graduating with top honors. Margaret moved to Vancouver, Washington, where she taught at Shumway Junior High School. There she met Benjamin J. Ruyle, her future husband, who was assigned to Fort Vancouver. They married on June 14, 1944. After World War II, Ben embarked on a career with the Foreign Service. They lived in Germany, Belgium, Washington DC, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. Upon retirement they moved permanently to the Northwest, living in Bellingham, Olympia, and Seattle.

Margaret will be remembered by her family as such a loving and giving wife, mother, and grandmother. She gave her all to her family. The whole family has wonderful memories of the life she and Dad put together for their five daughters. And they both continued to offer love and caring to their twelve grandchildren. Mom and Dad will be loved and missed forever. As a grandchild commented, Grandma definitely leaves a legacy of love in our family.