Ruth Evis Bower

A memorial service is planned for June 7, 2015 at 2:00pm at the Linwood Seventh Day Adventist Church at 6525 N. Monroe Spokane, WA.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, Okay and Martha Hill, brother, Stanley Hill, sister, Marjorie Hill, and husband, Russell Bower.

Ruth is survived by her children, Bryce and Lorna Bower of Ferndale, WA, Martha (Marta) and Jay Kriner of Soldotna, AK. Charita (Toki) Miller, and partner Dan Boles, both of Spokane, WA, and Brett Bower of Kenai, AK. One brother, Herbert H. Hill of Colton, CA. Grandchildren, Amanda Kriner of Soldotna, AK, Holly and Eric Downs of Soldotna, AK, BJ and Kerra Bower of Post Falls, ID, Denae’ and John O’Rorke of Kirkland, WA, Victor and Amanda Miller of Spokane, WA, Matthew Miller of Spokane, WA. She is also survived by her step-son Russell (Bud) Bower of Albion, WA, and two step-daughters, Dorothy Donohoe of Medimont, ID, and Charlene Goddard of Lakewood, CO. She is also survived by 4 great grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Ruth attended Plainview Academy Elementary School and Plainview Academy in Redfield, SD. She move from Redfield in 1946 to Rapid City, SD where she sold cosmetics. After a short time, she moved to Janesville, WI where she worked at a local radio station. In 1949 she moved to Rochester, NY, where she worked for a local TV station. In 1951 she moved to Spokane, WA, where she met her husband, Russell Bower. They were married on October 2, 1955. The family moved to northern Idaho in 1960 to 1965. The family moved back to Spokane in 1965 and lived next door to her parents so she could be closer to them, and work in her father’s business. In 1967, Ruth took control of ownership of Hill Specialty Products, a company started by her father eight years earlier. She later sold the company to her daughter, Toki, in 1997 and retired. After retirement, Ruth traveled many places with her best friend, Irene (Pete) Nelson.

She also enjoyed community service work. She worked for the crisis hotline for 2 years, and with Spokane’s COPS for several years. Her hobbies were, reading, crocheting, collecting Avon, Christmas tree pins, and owls. She was known as the “Owly Old Lady.”

In lieu of flowers, memorials in her honor can be made to the Upper Columbia Conference Education Dept. Worthy Student Fund. Address, 3715 S. Grove Rd. Spokane, WA 99224.