Ruth Alberta White Montgomery of Sheridan, WY was born January 7, 1920, in Williamstown, Kansas, to Arthur White and Celia Underwood White. She passed from the care of the great staff at Westview Health Care Center into the loving arms of the Lord in the early morning of April 3, 2013.

Ruth had 6 sisters and 3 brothers, with sister, Bonnie Hartzell, and brother, Wayne White, surviving her. They all grew up on a farm in Eastern Kansas, where they raised wheat and vegetables. Her memories of struggling through the great Depression and Dust Bowl stayed with her all her life – but being on a farm, they always had something to eat, just no cash money! She graduated from Perry High School in 1937, where she was member of the State Champion Women’s basketball teams of 1936 and 1937-forming her life love of basketball. She spent hours watching basketball, either on TV or at the high school or college, and her special team was the Kansas Jayhawks. After graduation, she went to California to find work during the war, but came back to Kansas City where she met her future husband. She worked for Milgram Grocery Store as the order clerk, and he was a truck driver, delivering produce to the store. He waited for her one night at the bus stop, and instead of going home, they went out for hamburgers – and the rest is their story together. She married Cecil Lyman Montgomery in October, 1943. They were married for over 30 years and she will be glad to be reunited with him in heaven.

She leaves behind her daughter, Carol and husband, Ken, Lundgren of Sheridan; and her son, Clark with wife, Nora, Montgomery, of Lathrop, Missouri. She is survived by grandchildren Jennifer Ruth Jarrell, JeanAnne Elizabeth and husband Darryl Christensen, J Michael Lundgren and wife Melisa, Frances Lee and husband, Brad, Faircloth, and C L Montgomery, plus great-grandchildren Jasmyne Lundgren, Tristen and Alexis Talbert, Jordan Jarrell, Tyler and Telisha Williams, Allyson and Bryson Beck and Noelle Lundgren, Brittany and husband, Brett, Brouhard, Alexandar and Jerrett Guzan, Xavier Tripp, Makayla and Morgan Montgomery. AND 3 great-great-grandchildren June, Brodie ,and Braylee Brouhard. She is also remembered by her special friend, Kathy Howard. And she had a special relationship with her nieces and nephew, Barbara White, Bill White, Bob White, Sue White, Debbie and Mark Wade, Selma White, Pat and Bob Dettwiler, Judy and Dale Fowler. She shopped all year to make sure she had Christmas presents for everyone. She was great on presents – for birthdays, holidays, and “suitcase” gifts; when she traveled she brought something for everyone. Shopping was her hobby and she always looked for sales and bargains.

She was a stay-at-home mom – being Sunday school and Vacation Bible School Teacher and Girl and Boy Scout leader. She had wanted to be a teacher, but there was no money for college when she graduated. She loved books and was an avid reader. When her husband became ill from a heart attack, she went to work at Federated Mutual Insurance and worked as an insurance clerk retiring after 25 years with the company. She moved to Sheridan in 1994 to be closer to her daughter, Carol. After she retired she worked as a hostess at KFC in Topeka, Ks and then at Arby’s in Sheridan. She loved people and looked forward to each day as she greeted them into the store. She made many friends that way. She loved jewelry, especially large, chunky, costume pieces and she never went anywhere without her earrings! She served as a Senior Home Companion for many years, bringing joy with her visits to shut-ins. She started a charm bracelet when she traveled to India, Israel, and Rome, but it got so full it turned into a necklace as she continued her travels.

She was baptized when she was 8 years old, with her sister Jeanette, in the Kaw(Kansas River) by the minister from the Baptist Church. She attended church throughout her life and was a member of First Christian Church of Sheridan.

Memorials may be sent to the Good Samaritan Fund at the church, 202 S. Connor, in Sheridan.

Celebrations of Ruth’s life will be held later at the church and her ashes will be taken this summer to Kansas City to be buried alongside of her husband. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

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