Baker City, Oregon
Ruth M. Ritch, 73, a long-time resident of Baker City died Friday, June 20, 2003, at her home.
Memorial services for Mrs. Ritch were held Tuesday, June 24, 1 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street. Pastor Ralph Holcomb officiated.
Ruth Ritch was born May 31, 1930, in Halfway. She was a daughter of Frank and Pearl (Carlson) West. She was raised and attended schools in Halfway, graduating from Pine Valley High School. After graduation, she moved to Baker City, where she went to work for McCords Insurance Company. On June 14, 1952, she married Leonard E. Ritch in La Grande. They made their home in Baker City. After their marriage, she stayed at home and took care of their two daughters, Paula and Sandy. When the girls were in junior high, she returned to work as a clerk at Woolworths and then went to work at Neuberger and Heilner’s. After they closed, she went to work at The Merc. Her husband, Leonard passed away in 1983. In 1985, she became a caregiver and opened Birchwood Adult Foster Care Home and worked there until 1998 when they sold their business and closed the foster home.
Ruth loved to be with her family and grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling and going for rides in the mountains. She also enjoyed crocheting, knitting, reading westerns and history books. She was a modest women who had the fortitude and courage to start a business in her early 50s and was very successful at it.
She is survived by her mother, Pearl White, Baker City; daughters and sons-in-law, Paula and Tim Smith of Boise, Idaho; Sandy and Bud Scott of Baker City; brother and sister-in-law, Wayman and Erna West of Port Angeles, Wash.; sister, Jean Wheaton of Kennewick, Wash.; grandchildren, Sam and Stephanie Scott of Bend, Eric Scott of La Grande, Micah Smith, Sarah Smith, and Lucas Smith, all of Boise, Idaho; great granddaughter Brooklyn Scott of Bend; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard, and her father.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Ritch’s memory may be directed to the charity of their choice. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, July, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor