Ruth was born in Spokane 3/6/21 and went to join her sister and brothers on her birthday 3/6/18. Birthdays were great on earth, but this one was celebrated with her family that went ahead to the feast in Heaven. Her parents, Herman and Mary Tobert Schmidt emigrated from Europe to Canada and then to Spokane with their first son, Ben (Alma), Esther VanAlstyne and Bill (Virginia). When Ruth was 8 years old and young follow-back Robert (Nellie) was in tow, the family bought Spokane Valley property which the whole family farmed. That property later became The Plant Farm. The farm was a lot of work, especially pinking the strawberries. Those were never Ruth’s favorite and she never forgot the hard work of picking them. She is missed by her nieces-Helen, Nancy, Pricilla and Linda and nephews-Bob, George and Ed. She is also missed by great and great great nieces and nephews. After completing Vera Grade School and Central Valley High School she was trained as a Secretary which took her to Washington, D.C. and later to Seattle where she worked for Matson Steamship Co. She always loved animals. Maybe that was related to the farm with multiple animals. She is widely known for the love for dogs, especially those she raised in her Kennel Jentre Yorkshire Terriers. Her Yorkies won many awards, including the well-known Westminster Kennel Club in New York City. She loved each of the dogs and carefully checked each family that bought one of them. She wanted to be sure they were well cared for. Her most famous Yorkie was Jubilee Eagle, known as Jubie.
Ruth always loved gardening and had flowers and trees around each place she lived, and she moved often including WA, DC, Seattle, California, Texas and her favorites, Spokane and Spokane Valley. The last plants she tended are Prayer Plant and Indian Bamboo. Those are in the hands of her niece.
Ruth’s passports are full of the many countries she and friends visited. She loved to travel. Often those excursions were related to the Yorkie shoes, but more often just sightseeing.
Another favorite of Rut’s was golfing. She continued that sport into her 80’s. On one occasion in her 80’s she was featured on KHQ TV. In the latter years she needed assistance due to visual decline.
Over many years she had glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. Even in her later years she kept going with help of various visual aids including her computer and enlarger. Lilac Blind, Spokane Service for The Blind were and important help for her and many others, including social gatherings. STA made those meetings possible. She loved the fun, dress-up, fellowship at those meetings.
Ruth’s early church affiliation was with the whole family at the German Baptist Church (Arthur Street Baptist) in Spokane. Later, while in Seattle, she had Baptism on May15, 1954 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Special appreciation goes out to friends at Appleway Court who loved her and helped in many ways, a and to Sullivan Park Care Center staff who, over the last four years, became family to her and her family members who visited.
The length of time Ruth could enjoy independence was lengthened by Lilac Blind of Spokane and transportation by STA and family members. Thank you!
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