Ruth Elaine Schmidt, 64

Ruth Elaine Unruh Schmidt was born to Virgil and Marjorie Unruh in Bonners Ferry, Idaho on March 9, 1960. She passed away peacefully at home in the early hours of June 5, 2024, after a long courageous battle with cancer.

Ruth had a happy childhood growing up on a dairy farm in Moyie Springs, Idaho. She attended Valley View Elementary School for all of her education. She often talked of her many memories of time spent with siblings and her numerous girl cousins. They were special in her life and she always cherished the bond she had with them.

Ruth was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, on March 11, 1973, by Min. Curtis Dirks. She never regretted her decision to be a Christian. In the last few weeks, she often expressed a desire for her heavenly home.

When she was twenty-one, she moved to Kansas to work in Bethel Home, forming friendships that meant a lot to her. It was there, in Montezuma, that she met me, Ancel Schmidt. We were joined in marriage on July 29, 1984. The first seven of our nearly forty years together were spent in Montezuma. Our first three girls joined our home during this time, fulfilling her dream of becoming a mother. In November 1991 we moved our family to Bonners Ferry, where our youngest daughter joined the family. We girls feel like she was the best mother God could have given us. Mom had a gift of making delicious food and enjoyed cooking special meals to share with others. She passed this love of cooking on to us. Her quiet way of teaching is a comforting memory.

Mom’s grandchildren held a very special place in her heart. They always knew that their grandma loved them and had time for them. She spoke about how hard it was to think of leaving them behind.

A few other precious memories to her were her time spent working at Sunset Home and the year that she and Dad spent teaching in Oroville, California.

Her many friends and family walked with her through her cancer journey chat. She always felt she wasn’t walking alone, knowing she could reach out and feel their prayers as a band of angels around her.

Left with aching hearts and cherished memories are her husband, Ancel; her daughters, Abigail and Tyler Koehn, Carson City, Michigan; Katie and Rallin Nightingale, Texline, Texas; Amanda and Mitchell Holdeman; and Hannah Schmidt, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and eight grandchildren; brothers and sisters: Gerald and Janice, Roger and Cheryl, Leanna and Randy Wedel all of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Joyce and Glenn Banach, Dodge City, Kansas; Mark and Robin, Yuma, Arizona; Loren and Mary Lou, Ronan, Montana; and Dalton and Rolanda, Othello, Washington; brothers-in-law: Dale Schmidt, Independence, Missouri; Lonnie and Twila Schmidt, Olathe, Colorado; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, parents-in-law, one sister-in-law, and three nephews.

Viewing will be held on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Woodland Mennonite Church from 4 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 10, 2024, also at Woodland Mennonite Church at 10:30 a.m. with burial to follow. To leave a message or memory for the family go to www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Bonners Ferry Funeral Home is caring for the family.