Ruth E. Davis Schnuerle
Ruth E. Schnuerle passed away in Bonners Ferry March 25, 2005, at the age of 94 years, four months and 23 days. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 2, at the fairgrounds Memorial Hall, with a dinner to follow the services.
Ruth was born in Harlington, Texas, November 2, 1910, the fourth of eight children born to Charles and EllaMae Davis. At a young age, she moved with her family to Kansas, where they lived until she was in the third grade. They then moved to Bloomington, Nebraska, where she graduated high school in 1928.
She worked for various farms and private homes in the area before marrying John Schnuerle in 1933. Dick and Carolyn were born in Nebraska before they decided to move west to look for employment. They had been trying to farm Schnuerle property with John’s twin brother, but the drought won that battle, so in 1937, John and Ruth built a small camper in which to live while the set out to find work.
The followed the farm crops around from Jordan Valley in southern Oregon to south Idaho, where they worked in the hops and sugar beet fields. In 1940, after Bob was born, they decided to head to north Idaho, where land was cheaper. They came to Boundary County in 1940 and bought 40 acres in the Deer Park community.
They had three more sons, and added to the family farm as land became available around them and as they could afford it.
John preceded Ruth in death in April, 2002, and Ruth stayed on the farm until she suffered a stroke that November, when she moved to the Selkirk Home in Bonners Ferry.
Ruth was an active volunteer for the Cancer Society and worked for many years at the Boundary County Fair. She won many awards for her canning and wine making. She loved to cook for the family and to make quilts and sock monkeys for all her grandchildren.
Ruth is survived by sons Dick and wife Kathy Schnuerle, Bob and wife EttaMae Schnuerle, and Max and wife Sharon Schnuerle, all of Bonners Ferry, and John Jr. and wife Arlene, Lewiston; daughter Carolyn and husband Regis McNeill, Naples; brother Henry Davis, Torrington, Wyoming; 23 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and two great-great granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, six siblings, grandson Steven McNeill, granddaughter Kami Schnuerle and daughter-in-law Donna.
The family suggests memorials be sent in care of Sharon Scnhuerle, HCR 61, Box 140E, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 to go to a memorial to be established at the Boundary County Fairgrounds.
Originally published on the website - Kootenai Valley Press - July 31, 2005
http://www.kvpress.com/obituaries/2005/0325schnuerle.htm