Obituary - Ruth Ethel Patrick Meredith

Ruth Ethel Patrick Meredith, 95, died of natural causes at the Care and Comfort Home in Havre October 6, 2020.

Services will be held at a later date for the safety of all who wish to attend.

She was born December 27, 1924, on the Patrick Homestead north of Rudyard near Goldstone, MT, the 12th of 16 children born to Charles Richard and Sadie Ina (Gale) Patrick. Ruth was born in the family home and was only the second girl of 12 births. When her birth was announced to her siblings one of her brothers exclaimed, "that's not a baby, its a girl."

She attended a rural school in the Goldstone area, graduating from Rudyard High School. She graduated from Northern Montana College with a degree in education and spent the better part of her life teaching school. 

In 1942, because of WW2 and at the age of 18, she was recruited for her first job after only a few months of college. She was placed at Sunrise school in Larado, MT.  In later years she taught in Chinook, Hinsdale, Havre, Wagner, Malta, Kremlin and then returned to Havre in 1968, where she taught at Devlin until she retired in 1985. Her past students and coworkers always speak highly of her and share fond memories.

Ruth married Harold H. Meredith on July 14, 1946, and together they had seven children. They lived in Havre where the first five of their children were born, then spent several years in the Malta area where the last two children were born. They returned to Havre, spending some time as snow birds in California. 

Mom loved her family, gardening, playing bridge, quilting and crossword puzzles. She achieved the rank of Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League. Another favorite of hers was chocolate and bringing her candy bars in her later years produced the biggest smiles ever! She was a delightful and pleasant person and a joy to be around.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers: Charles, Ralph, Russell, Lloyd, Clarence, Cecil, Clifford, Raymond, Wayne, Bernard, Richard and Donald; a sister, Gladys Smith; and a son, Patrick Meredith.

She is survived by a sister, Phyllis Gagnon of Chester; and children Harold Alan Meredith of Havre, Roger (Wanda) Meredith of Havre, Sherry (Larry) Culp of Noxon, Shelley Meredith of Havre, Susan Schmidt of Dillon, CO, and Liza (David) Sorensen of Helena; grandchildren, Damon (Jennifer) Combs, Callie Culp, Kennden (Andrea) Culp, Jon Eckberg, Garrett Schmidt, Sara Schmidt, Michael Johnson, Keith Johnson, four great-grandchildren, and generations of amazing nieces and nephews.

Memorials in her name may be sent to the ALS Association, http://www.als.org/donate .