Ruth May Webb was born May 8, 1926, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Bertha M. (Thomas) and Enos Axel Tow. She died Dec. 21, 2013, after an intense battle with pneumonia.
Being the youngest child, she was adored by her five much-older brothers. At the age of 10 she traveled alone by train from Iowa to Washington, D.C., to spend the summer with her brother Douglas.
As a teenager Ruth joined her brother Adron and family in the San Francisco area to finish her high school years. Roller skating became one of her passions and she was asked to join the roller derby team. It was at Denny’s Roller Rink in Santa Cruz, Calif., that she met her future husband, Leonard Webb. After their marriage on July 5, 1943, they returned to Cedar Rapids, where their first daughter, Diana, was born. Being a girl from the Midwest, the enormous Cascade Mountains were a bit overwhelming for Mom as their next move was to Leonard’s hometown of Twisp. There, their son David was born. Having found a promise of work, they moved on to Southern California where they added three more children to their family: Donna, Doreen and Douglas. They continued living and raising their brood in the area until Leonard said it was time to go home. In 1966 they packed up their four youngest and headed home to the Methow Valley.
Ruth held many jobs including working for Boyd Eiffert at the Club Café. She spent many years at Elma’s Variety Store (helping to raise and love lots of local kids). She retired as one of the “lunch ladies” from the Methow Valley School District, where many of her grandchildren were then in school. She took her turn on many boards and the PTA when her children were young and again after she retired.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Leonard, her son-in-law Gary Bekendam, and granddaughter Jerilee McHugh.
Ruth is survived by her five “D.L.” children, Diana Bekendam, David (Cindy) Webb, Donna Neubert, Doreen (Mike) McHugh and Douglas Webb; grandchildren Brad (Shelly) Bekendam and Becky (Pete) Seher, Erik and Nathan Webb, Sallie Bayly and Gabe Henson, Jeffrey (Ronda) McHugh and Callie (Tom) Lovette, Tim Webb; and nine great-grandchildren with one more on the way.
Mom was known as “Auntie Ruthie” to her many nieces and nephews. She was the last of her generation in the large Webb family. Mom never met a stranger.
Services will be held at a later date.
