Ruth Beatrice Roberts

(Born MacDonald)

February 7, 1927 - December 16, 2020

Ruth passed away peacefully at her home in Burnaby, BC. She was born in Kamloops, BC,

after a 150 mile sleigh trip from the MacDonald ranch near Bridge Lake. She was

predeceased by her parents, Ervin (Mac) Austin MacDonald and Hannah (Ann) Blanche

MacDonald (nee Botterill), siblings Doug (killed in WW2), Elaine and Jim, and, in 2018, by

her loving husband of 70 years, Frederick (Fred) William Roberts.

Ruth grew up in Fruitvale (near Trail), and later Robson. She had a passion for education,

and taught at small schools near Trail in the 1940s. She and Fred, married in 1948, lived in

Rossland and Castlegar, then moved their family to Vancouver in 1956, where Ruth

obtained her teacher’s certificate. She taught primary school for many years and, always an

innovator, brought the Sand Table Method to Vancouver to help children with reading. In the

1970s, she went to UBC, graduated with her B. Ed., and achieved her dream of being a

Learning Assistance Teacher.

Ruth and Fred provided a loving home, including summer camping trips, and much visiting

with extended family. They enjoyed a long retirement together, with winters in Burnaby and

summers at their cottage in Lardeau (north of Kaslo) on Kootenay Lake, where they

developed very strong and lively community connections, enjoyed the fabulous outdoors,

visited with both sides of the extended family, and hosted many guests.

Ruth was always keenly interested in family history and BC history. She helped her father

publish his book, The Rainbow Chasers, about his pioneering family in the Cariboo. Ruth

remained extremely sharp until the end, using the internet and email to research and to keep

in touch with family. Over the past few years, her big project was writing her memoir about

her childhood during the Depression, which she was avidly working on earlier this fall and

which now will sadly be incomplete.

Ruth is survived by her children Alan (Alison) and Deanne, her grandchildren Vanessa

(Arien), Brodie and Andrew, her cousin Vivian (age 100), and many cherished nieces,

nephews, grand-nieces/nephews and friends. She was widely respected and loved. She was

the last of her generation among her and Fred’s families.

There will be a Celebration of Life after the restrictions of the pandemic have been lifted. In

lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to a charity of your choice. Please share your

memories or condolences at www.dignitymemorial.ca, or contact Alan at:

[email protected].