In Loving Memory of

Ruth Elinor Ross

Born in Tacoma to Archie McKenzie Ferguson and Mary Margaret (Miller) Ferguson on September 6, 1937, the eldest of nine children, Ruth was a happy and beautiful baby. She was a hard worker and helped her mother with the younger siblings. The entire family were fabulous singers. Ruth grew up in Yelm, Washington, graduating in 1955 at the age of 17. She spent the summer with her Grandmother Antonia until she turned 18, then moved to LA to live in a boarding house with other women, and work as a secretary.

There she met her good friend, Joanie Patterson, and they had wonderful times traveling to Vegas, Tijuana, Disneyland the first summer it opened, and had many other adventures. Ruth moved home at the age of twenty to help her mother with her last pregnancy, which resulted in a beautiful baby sister named Debbie. They looked so much alike that people would ask Ruth if Debbie was her daughter.

Ruth worked in various secretarial roles, the last for the State Wildlife Department. She met and married Don Arnott in 1963, then they moved to Alaska in 1964. After 6 months they returned for the birth of their first child, Audrey. After purchasing their first home in Yelm, Washington, they welcomed three more children: Dianne, Daniel, and Deborah.

Ruth was an exceptional homemaker and sewed, crocheted, painted, landscaped, gardened, and taught and entertained four busy children. She filmed wonderful home movies of holidays, celebrations, and interesting sights, which she enjoyed watching up until a few days before she passed away.

In 1974, the family moved to the Colville area, eventually buying a farm at Rice. Ruth loved dogs, cats, and farm animals. Brushing the horses and taking care of a menagerie of critters and her family, filled her days.  She enjoyed being involved with 4-H and taking her children to the local fairs.  One of her favorite summer activities was taking her kids swimming at Rotter's Bay and Bradbury Beach on the Columbia River.

Ruth moved to Colville in the early 90's and took business courses at Colville Community College.  Mom took care of her granddaughters, Sara and Mariah, for a few years, and then worked for Benny's until her retirement. She would take her granddaughter, Janae, for bike rides at Locust Grove on Saturdays and her home was the hub for the kids and grandkids to meet.

When she became ill, Ruth lived in nursing homes until 2022 and then moved home with family members. She passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's on April 18, 2024. She is missed and adored and now at peace with her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Donald and William.                                                She is survived by her children, Audrey Rickard (Randy), Dianne Lentz (Brad), Dan Arnott (Karen), and Debbie McGourin (Patrick); grandchildren, Janae Washburn (Jason), Chase Rickard (Treasa), Sara Lentz, Mariah Huber (Ryan), Dustin Carpenter (Nicole), Matt Arnott (Meghan), Katie McGourin, and Kristie McGourin; great-grandchildren, Cody and Elora Carpenter, and Abigail and Nathan Rickard; sisters, Francis, Kathy, and Debbie (Richard); brothers, Tom, Fred, and James; and numerous nieces and nephews that Ruth dearly missed when she moved from the coast.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 19th at 11:00 am at Danekas Funeral Chapel in Colville. Memorial donations can be made to CVAS, (Colville Valley Animal Santuary) or Running Strong for American Indian Youth.