Ruth Hittle Wheeler

Ruth Hittle Wheeler 86, passed away February 26, 2008. Services will be held March 22, 2008 at 11:00 am at the Free Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry, Id with inurnment to follow at Grandview Cemetery. Ruth was born April 29, 1921 in Collbran, CO to Milton J. and Matt (McKee) Branson. She attended school in Collbran and worked on the family's sheep and cattle ranch in the Plateau Valley. On September 6, 1938 Ruth married Orval Lee Hittle in Glenwood Springs, CO. He ran the Hunter Ranch and during that time their four children were born. In 1946 the family moved to a farm north of Moyie Springs, ID where Ruth helped Orval harvest and sell cedar posts and Christmas trees. Ruth cared for and moved the family following Orval as he cleared right of way for power lines throughout North Idaho and Eastern Washington for about 6 years. The family moved to Wilder, ID in 1954 where Ruth & Orval ran the Little Green Grocery Store. They sold the store in 1956 and moved to the Round Prairie area in Bonners Ferry. Ruth drove a school bus until 1964. They moved to Arlington, OR for 11 years where Ruth took painting classes and became very good. In 1972 Orval was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and they moved to the Deep Creek area in Bonners Ferry, ID. Ruth was determined to give him the very best care possible. During this time she not only cared for Orval, she worked in Phoenix, AZ at Pioneer Park, a living museum, where she dressed in period clothing and gave tours. She also took classes to learn wood carving. Ruth took Orval to Arizona for winters for 8 years and for the last 5 years he was bed ridden. Ruth cared for Orval at home until his death in 1994. Ruth married Leslie V. Wheeler on January 24, 1995 in Phoenix, AZ. They only had a short time together but they were very happy. For the last 10 years she spent summers in Bonners Ferry and winters in Phoenix with her loving companion Tom Cheek. They were very happy caring for their garden, yard and home together spending time with family and socializing with friends. Ruth was like a second mom to her younger brother and sister & many nieces and nephews that spent their summers at her house growing up where there was always an abundance of love & laughter. She was passionate about her family, gardening, art and living life to the fullest. She was a woman who exhausted those much younger than her. Ruth needed much more than 24 hours in a day to accomplish all that she did. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Milton & Matt Branson; husbands Orval Hittle & Leslie Wheeler; sister Addah Severson and granddaughter Darlene Pederson. Ruth is survived by her long time companion Tom Cheek; daughter Evelyn (Ron) Smith and son Ray (Marj) Hittle of Bonners Ferry, ID; daughter Helen (Ken) Pederson of Charleston, OR; son Milt (Lorraine) Hittle of Slidel, LA; sister Wilma (Larry) Wallace & brother Bill Branson of Bonners Ferry, ID;sister Fern (Cliff) Shriver of Cedaredge, CO; 13 Grandchildren, 26 Great Grandchildren and 9 Great Great Grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Parkinson’s Disease Research at O.H.S.U. Foundation 1121 S.W. Salmon Street suite 200 Portland, OR 97205