Ruth Oxford Benson, March 11, 1926 – April 22, 2017

Ruth Oxford Benson was one of eight children of parents who homesteaded in Eastern Montana in 1914. Ruth was born in Ekalaka, MT and spent her formative years in and around Ekalaka and Miles City, MT. Her longest friendship today is with one of her classmates from Carter County High School.

Ruth met the love of her life, Leonard Benson “Len”, in Miles City; they were married in 1946. Two sons were born to them during their time in Miles City – Mike and Eric. Ruth stood-by and supported Len’s 30 year career with Consolidated Freightways, which took them to La Grande, OR where two more sons were born – Karl and Mark; then to Yakima,WA and finally on to Spokane,WA.

In a second career, Ruth and Len partnered with close friends to form a small construction company and proceeded to build apartments for WSU college students in Pullman,WA. Ruth left her spacious and comfortable home in Spokane to live in a 700 square foot apartment amongst boisterous college students.

After several years the partnership sold the apartments and Len and Ruth bought a small motel in Grangeville, ID. She loved the Camas prairie and the natural beauty of the area.

Upon retirement, they moved to Tacoma, WA which they used as a home-base for several years of traveling the country in their motor home. They visited all but two of the fifty states. After Len passed away in 1998 Ruth moved to Denver, CO and then to Lewiston, ID. She lived in Lewiston longer than in any other city and she loved “The Valley,” saying the people there were the warmest and friendliest people anywhere.

She recently returned to Spokane to enter into assisted living and to be closer to family. Ruth was a woman of great faith and her love of God and Jesus Christ was the guiding light of her life. Whether at Zion Lutheran in La Grande, Central Lutheran in Yakima, Messiah Lutheran in Spokane, Trinity Lutheran in Pullman or Congregational-Presbyterian in Lewiston, her life and the life of her family revolved around the church.

She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, served on church committees, sent cards to the sick, visited the shut-ins, and served in any other way possible, usually without being asked. Her grace and kindness was guided by God's hand. If one were to ask Ruth’s friends where they met her, the majority would answer “at church.”

Faith and family ruled Ruth’s life. She loved family gatherings and loved cooking. She was a great cook, nothing fancy, but everything from scratch. One of her most important projects late in life was to prepare a cookbook of her favorite recipes for each of her 6 grandchildren – all girls by the way -- which included the famous “Nana’s Biscuits” recipe.

Another project for her later in life was making greeting cards, which assured that no family member would ever be forgotten for a birthday or special occasion. Ruth’s immediate and extended family loved her dearly and over fifty family members – including all 6 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren – gathered together last summer to celebrate Ruth’s 90th birthday. It was a day filled with love and recognition for a life devoted to others.

In Ruth’s own words: “ My life has been blessed and I am so grateful to God for His care and love. How could I be anything but thankful?” People who have known Ruth Benson are likewise blessed and thankful for having been a part of her life.

A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held on May 5th at 2:00PM at Whitworth Presbyterian Church in Spokane, WA. In lieu of flowers, Ruth’s family suggests a donation to Congregational Presbyterian Church in Lewiston, ID.