Ruth Bienz peacefully passed into eternity at the age of 95, on April 29, 2021, at Fountain View Village, Fountain Hills, AZ. Ruth was born on August 22, 1925, as the youngest daughter (of six children) of Melchior and Martha Raz who immigrated to Hillsdale, OR, from Switzerland. Thus, becoming a first-generation U.S. citizen. She grew up on her father’s dairy farm and at a young age helped her younger brother deliver milk. As a 12-year-old, she became the youngest person to summit Mt. Hood with her older brother. Ruth later added pilot to her accomplishments when she soloed, earning her flight wings in college. During WWII, she worked swing shift for the war effort while completing her senior year in high school. She then attended college at Oregon State University and became a licensed medical technologist.
After WWII, she married Lester Bienz, to whom she was happily married for 64 years. They initially lived in Portland, later moving to Colorado, Montana, Washington, and California, raising four children along the way. Following retirement, they lived on Whidbey Island, WA, and finally settled in Scottsdale, AZ. She is predeceased by her husband, Lester.
Ruth’s interests over the years included traveling in the United States, extensive European vacations (mostly to Switzerland to visit family), yachting in the San Juan Islands and other exotic destinations, parasailing in Hawaii, and a Mississippi riverboat cruise. She also enjoyed mountaineering, skiing, gardening, oil and china painting, and ice cream! Ruth loved her many canine buddies through the years, most recently two Beagles and a rescue named Benji.
Surviving family members include her children Dan Bienz of Scottsdale, AZ, Kathy Burbidge (Rick) of Carrollton, TX, Becky Berry (Brooks) of Mission Viejo, CA, and Dave Bienz (Candace) of Scottsdale, AZ, her grandchildren Mike (Amanda), Dani (Pearce), Matt (Stephanie), Becca, and Dawson, and two great-granddaughters Norah and Inez.
