Ruth Naomi Stevens

02/10/1923 – 8/4/2016

Ruth died peacefully in her sleep on August 4th, she was 93 years old. Services were held at St Mary’s Church on Tuesday August 9. Ruth Stevens was born to Christ and Christina Krein in American Falls, Idaho. She was the 9th of 13 children. After attending high school in American Falls, Ruth went to Albion normal school, where she obtained her teaching credential. She enlisted in the navy during World War II and served in New York and California. She attended the University of Montana after the war, where she met her husband Steve. Ruth and Steve were married on June 7, 1950. They lived in Spokane, then Sunnyside Washington, where Pat and Chris were born. They moved to the Los Angeles area in 1956 and Irene was born there in 1963. Ruth taught grammar school in several Catholic schools in the San Fernando Valley. She and Steve retired to Spokane in 1981. Ruth was an independent person and a great conversationalist who also enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading books, gardening, volks marches, card games and keeping up with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She received her B.A. in History from Cal State Northridge when she was 50 years old. She enjoyed walking 2-3 miles a day well into her 80s. She never wanted to be a burden to anyone. In retirement she tutored the old and young in English. She loved to attend Spokane Indian baseball games. She is survived by her sister Lucille Balis (her husband Marvin); her children Patrick Stevens ( his wife Doreen), Christina Martinez, and Irene Grace (her husband Tim); her grandchildren Tom Stevens ( his wife Jacqueline) , Dillon Martinez, Dave Stevens, Maya Martinez, Jordan Grace, Shane Grace and Evan Grace; her great grandchildren Lillian, Samuel and Reid Stevens; her nephew Steve Holz (his wife Debra); her nieces Sue Schindler, Pam Volmer (her husband Butch) and Sally Lemaister ; her cousin Frieda Armstrong and many more nieces, nephews and thoughtful friends that enriched her life. She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer Stevens and will be buried next to him in Libby, Montana.