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In Memory

Ruth Collett (Westergard) - Class of 1928

Ruth Collett Westergard was born July 20, 1910 at Smithfield, Utah to Charles Merrill Collett and Mary Elenora Munk.

Both sides of Ruth's family were some of the first settlers in Smithfield and Mantua, Utah. Many of which ultimately were also some of the first settlers in Bear Lake County, Idaho which included Paris, Bennington, Georgetown and Montpelier, among others.

Ruth was born in Smithfield in a little two room log house with dirt floors. She was next to the youngest in her family. She had three brothers, Farrell, Raeo and Lester and two sisters, Viola and Marcella. Lester however died before the age of 2.

Ruth lived in Smithfield until she was 10 years old and in 1920, Charles moved their family to the Mountains near Bear Lake, outside of Georgetown, Idaho. Most of her extended family lived up in those areas. Ruth attended schools in Georgetown, Bennington and ultimately they moved again to Montpelier and that's where she graduated from High School in 1928.

During the years growing up, Ruth's dad farmed and raised some livestock, namely pigs. Her mother had a boarding house during World War I. Ruth and her sisters had to help their mom with the boarders, doing the washing and cleaning, besides fixing them all two meals a day. They served 25-30 people meals morning and evening. 

After Ruth graduated from High School, she moved to Bennington, and later that year, moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho to live with her sister Viola and brother-in-law, Harold Tippetts. She moved there to help care for their children and also to help work in the store at the creamery. She also worked at the Idaho Falls Hospital in the diet kitchen.

She met Jay Westergard after moving to Idaho Falls, at the roller skating rink and they also had the occasion to see each other when Jay would deliver goods to the creamery. They were married May 4, 1935, at Jay's parent's home with a lovely ceremony in the yard. Their good friend, Marty and Dale were married the same day and following the festivities, took a honeymoon trip together as a foursome.

After they were married, they lived in a little white house near the downtown area of Idaho Falls. She worked at the Delmonte Pea Factory which was located then where the new Marriott Hotel is by Smitty's on Broadway in Idaho Falls, in 2013.

Ruth and Jay had Sharon on March 2, 1937 and Steve a few years later on October 24, 1948. Ruth did not work much outside the home after the children were born.

When Steve was little, Ruth's mother, Mary Elnora Munk became ill and Ruth went to Smithfield often to help take care of her until her passing.

Ruth was a good homemaker and an excellent seamstress, often making clothes for her children, grandchildren and even the girls Barbie dolls. She and Jay often had family over for Sunday dinners and holidays. She made wonderful rolls, pies and cookies. The Christmas times will always be remembered with her tins of Almond Roca and Buttermilk fudge. Thankfully, some of us have mastered her recipes to keep those traditions going.

After Jay died, Ruth had some adjusting to do. She had never learned to drive a car! She was determined to learn though and did get her first driver's license at the age of 68! She was a nervous wreck to take the written test and also had to have a driving test with someone from the bureau. After she got her license, she was always afraid to make left hand turns, so she would have family members map out her course of travel around town for wherever she needed to go, making right hand turns only. It never matter how far out of the way she had to go to accomplish this.

Ruth took quite a few trips as well, she went to Greece, Italy and Hawaii with her sisters and their husbands. She also went to Alaska and the World Fair. In 1982 She took Sharon and Steve and their spouses on a cruise to the Carribean. For New Years Eve in 1991 Sharon and George took Ruth, George's mom and brother to California to visit their daughter Susan and family. While there Susan and John arranged for them to go to the Opera in a limousine. They also went to the Rose Bowl Parade and a Pro Football Game.

Ruth really loved to bowl and was on a league for many years. She bowled up until the age of 81 and even once hit a 200 game which thrilled her to death! She was so excited about that.

Ruth loved to go to George and Sharon's cabin at Hebgen Lake in Montana. She had so much fun there and would head up game playing, staying up till the wee hours playing cards or Yatzee. She also loved to fish and at the age of 80 took her first ride on a jet ski and loved it!

Ruth also in later years took many trips to Utah to spend time with her sisters and would often stay with Marcella, as her husband had also passed. They loved to can together, using the lovely peaches and so on from the orchards at Brigham City. She had the best canning recipes for numerous pickles and so on, which have been passed down the family to one of her granddaughters.

Ruth was a joy to be around, she was fun and her eyes just sparkled. She passed away on February 23, 1993 and has been greatly missed by her family and many friends.