Ruth Betia Henning

upheaval, flight, travels, finding a partner, creating a home, bringing up a family, and culminating in

personal fulfillment.

Ruth was born in Berlin, Germany, on May 5,1920, the oldest child of Kathe and Josef Schwarz. Her

sister Ilse was 3 years younger. Ruth’s mother and father gave her a solid and loving childhood, which

served her well during turbulent times as Hitler rose to power in 1933. Ruth wanted a university

education, but she was forced to interrupt her studies due to edicts against Jews and education. She

escaped from Germany in May, 1939, leaving her beloved family behind. Unable to get immigration

visas, they were deported to the Riga Ghetto in Latvia and perished there, victims of the Nazi

persecution.

Ruth began a 10 year odyssey that led her around the world. Having fled Germany, Ruth went to England

to work as a nanny. She then got a visa for the U.S. and in Jacksonville, Fl. she studied business.

Chicago was her next destination, where she worked for an insurance company. She became a

naturalized citizen in 1945. Skilled workers were needed by the U.S. government postwar in Japan, so

Ruth accepted a 2 year posting in Tokyo. It was there she witnessed the war tribunals, met the pearl

baron Mikimoto, and climbed Mt. Fuji. Living in Japan inspired in Ruth a lifelong respect and admiration

for Japanese culture. In Kure, Japan, she met a group of Indian doctors, who encouraged her to visit

India. When her tour of duty in Japan was over, Ruth boarded a freighter bound for Karachi. Her ship

was wrecked in the Sulu sea near Negros in Manila, with no loss of life. When finally arriving in India in

1948, India was being partitioned and there was much political unrest. Ruth traveled to Srinigar in

northern India and lived in a houseboat on Dal Lake. Like Japan, India remained a lifelong interest for

Ruth.

After these adventures, Ruth returned to Germany. She found Berlin in ruins in 1949. She went to

Frankfurt, and got a job with the U.S. postwar government. It was there she met her future husband, Carl

Henning, also from Germany. They married in 1951 and emigrated to the U.S., settling in Eugene,

Oregon, where their first daughter, Kay, was born in 1953, followed by Joan in 1956. Ruth and Carl

started Henning Forest Products and Ruth was involved in running the business with Carl and raising her

family. Carl died in 1992, and Ruth remained in the family home until 2009, when she moved to Rose

Schnitzer Manor. Ruth appreciated her stability, free from political strife, and was always aware of how

lucky she was to have arrived in Oregon to start a new life.

As a result of her experiences, Ruth developed an open, inquiring mind and was always interested in

ideas, politics, music and the arts. Throughout her life, Ruth had many long and close friendships. She

was exceptionally well read and was a respected member of several book groups. She was an

accomplished bridge player, dearly loved visiting the beach, traveling, and celebrating all occasions.

Ruth had a youthful and supportive outlook which made her very close to her grandchildren and beloved

to all who knew her. She was devoted to her family and considered them “her greatest achievement”.

Ruth will be greatly missed.

Ruth is survived by her daughters Kay Danley and Joan Athay, 4 grandchildren, Rachael Ankala, Leah

Danley, Kathryn Athay and Daniel Athay, and 2 great granddaughters, Sonali Ankala and Neha Ankala,

all of Portland.

Ruth was interred in a private ceremony on March 26, a private memorial service is to be held on May 3.! !

The family suggests that remembrances or contributions be given to Doctor’s Without Borders, The

National Council of Jewish Women, or Amnesty International.