Ruth Margaret French

Ruth Margaret French, a woman of enduring faith, kind spirit and gentle action, passed away Friday morning, May 22, in Sandpoint. She was 91. Ruth was born in Lake Wilson, Minnesota to John and “Mayme” Westera on August 20, 1917. She was the middle child of three sisters. Frances, the oldest, passed away in 2000. Evie resides in La Jolla, California. Ruth and her family moved to Sioux Falls, SD when she was a child. She attended elementary and high school there. She was very involved in many aspects of the church from an early age and sang in various church choirs nearly all her life. It was at a church youth function that she met Dallas French, a young man who later became a pilot in the Army Air Corps during WWII, a minister, and her husband. Ruth and Dallas both attended Sioux Falls College together and served as homecoming king and queen one fall. Ruth graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education. After the war, Ruth and Dallas married and they remained together for 42 years until Dallas passed away on May 26, 1987. Their desire to serve God led Dallas to attend seminary in Berkley. Following his ordination, they served in a number of American Baptist Churches throughout Idaho, Washington, South Dakota, and Montana. Their son, Mark, was born in 1950 in Palo Alto, CA and their daughter, “dee” (Denise), was born in Walla Walla, WA four years later. During her middle years, Ruth excelled at multiple occupations; elementary school teacher, choir director, pastor’s wife, and mother. She developed a passion for sewing and gardening. No matter how busy she was, she always made time for her family and her church. In 1990 after retirement and her husband’s passing, Ruth moved to the home of her daughter’s family in Sandpoint. She made many dear friends in the community over nearly 20 years, particularly at the Sandpoint United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian women’s sewing group. Ruth was busy with church activities such as choir, reading and study programs, United Methodist Women, and Morning Glory Activity Group. She regularly prepared food for the community meal and sewed hundreds of quilts which were donated to various community outreach programs. Ruth was the ideal grandmother figure to many boys and girls, and especially so to her very own---Ben (1977-2000) and Sarah—the children of dee and Ray Kosse. She felt blessed to witness the marriage of Sarah to Wingate Barraclough in 2003. Ruth leaves behind scores of friends and a family who loved her deeply. A celebration of Ruth’s life will take place at 11:00AM, Friday, May 29 at the Sandpoint United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the Sandpoint United Methodist church, (711 Main) or the Idaho Panhandle Habitat for Humanity (PO Box 1191) both in Sandpoint, Idaho 83864.