Ruth Leonard

Ruth Leonard, 69, passed away

peacefully at Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Oct. 4, 2011

with her dear friends by her side. She was born on Oct. 10, 1941,

in New England, N.D. to Lloyd and Avis Wilson.

Ruth moved with her family throughout

the Dakotas and Wisconsin following her father’s work as a county

extension agent. As the eldest child, Ruth helped her parents care

for her two siblings, and despite often austere living conditions,

developed a knack for finding and exploiting the positives out of

any situation. After settling in Brookings, S.D., Ruth spent her

adolescence in the college town, and graduated from Brookings High

School, class of 1959.

On May 29, 1969, Ruth graduated from

General Beadle State College in Madison, S.D., with a bachelor of

science degree in education, and embarked on her life-long calling

to shape and develop the young minds of the numerous communities

she lived in across the world. This journey in elementary education

started in Phoenix and concluded in Whitefish in 1996, with stops

in South Dakota, Germany and California along the way. She was

loved by her students, taking a personal interest in each one to

help facilitate their learning through trust and compassion.

She met William Leonard, an officer in

the U.S. Army, while teaching in her hometown of Brookings and they

fell in love. They were married on May 30, 1970. Bill was assigned

to duty in Germany in the summer of 1970, and Ruth finally had the

opportunity she had so long desired — to travel and experience

other lands and their cultures. A gypsy at heart, Ruth loved

exploring Europe with her young family.

Besides enjoying teaching and travel,

Ruth was an avid reader and dearly loved animals. At any given

time, the Leonard household included numerous dogs, cats and birds,

all of which benefited from Ruth’s loving care. Above all else,

Ruth was the consummate mother and grandmother always putting her

family first.

She is survived by her sons, Kevin and

wife Trudy of Stafford, Va., Shawn and wife Heather of Valrico,

Fla; brother, Lloyd and wife Audrey of Fort Collins, Colo.; sister,

Rosalie of Indianapolis; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and

nephews.

Ruth’s family suggests a contribution

in her honor be made to the Whitefish United Methodist Church (POB

4248, Whitefish, MT 59937). A memorial Service was held Oct. 10 at

the United Methodist Church in Whitefish.

Arrangements entrusted to Austin

Funeral Home.

You are invited to go to

www.austinfh.com to offer condolences and share memories and view

Ruth’s tribute wall.