Ruth Irene Lindwall (nee Lavery)
September 29, 1937 – May 22, 2011
Born in Miami, Manitoba
Ruth Lindwall died suddenly on May 22, 2011 at her home. She is survived by her husband Ray of Terrace, B.C. She leaves behind one daughter, Wendy (John) and grandchildren Vance, Tess and Lane plus her many nieces and nephews. Her parents are Edith and John (predeceased) Lavery. Ruth was the oldest of six children, her brothers Hugh, Glen, Cecil (predeceased) and Jackie (predeceased) and her baby sister Patricia, who she adored.
Her hometown was Winnipeg, where she lived for 50 years. She worked for many years for Eaton’s in Downtown Winnipeg, first in Pet Dept and then Housewares. She wanted more of a career and went back to Red River College and took the Clerical Bookkeeping course, which she passed with honours.
She did the books for many years for Rae & Jerry’s Restaurant then decided to purchase a Chicken Delight Franchise. Ruth and Ray loved the business and the customers and did really well with it.
The economy went down so they moved locations and businesses and bought a restaurant, The Pakwa Inn, in the commercial area of Winnipeg catering to the workers nearby. It was also a big success and she got to show off some of her great cooking skills and had customers coming in daily for some of her verbal fun and great food! All throughout her life, there was always great food and fun wherever Ruth was. She could organize a dinner party for 30 without a blink of an eye.
In 1992, they moved out West to be close to the grandkids. They sold the cottage at Bird River, that they enjoyed together to be with their family and friends to relax by the water or snowmobile in winter, always ending in a great meal. Ruth wanted to be a real grandma, not just a flat faced one existing only in photographs. Ray transferred with Investors to Terrace, B.C. where they met some really great friends and became involved in the community in many ways.
At 4’10” tall Ruth loved her family and friends, was kind hearted, witty and very clean. When her beautiful blue eyes got that special sparkle in them, you never knew what was coming out of her mouth just to try to make people smile or laugh. She loved her grandchildren and always welcomed them and their friends into her home for any sports event that was happening in town. Best pizza or perogies in Terrace at Ruth’s B&B!
Nominated in 2010 for Volunteer of the Year, she was an active member for the Hospital Auxiliary, working at the Thrift Store (inside family joke) working every Friday and Monday. She loved her co-workers and the customers, the treasures they would come across were just a bonus. Wednesday was also a day she looked forward to all week; this is where she had her ‘team’ of ladies to lead to the lunch hour, cooking up a storm for days for the Happy Gang Seniors Centre. Not an olive out of place.
Another of her favourite volunteer activities was to go every Sunday in the summer to Train Station where she set up her garage table selling her wares for the Thrift Store, everything hand picked for the special passengers she was about to meet. She loved to kajole and tease everyone who came to her table, the more important you were, the more you got teased. Ruth and Ray took the train every year East, just before Christmas, dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus and gave out Swedish Wish cookies and candy canes to the little kids on the train. Ruth loved to dress up for every special occasion!
For many years Ruth was a part of the C.O.P. in Terrace and could be seen doing security and parking at Music Festivals or taking the Speed Board out, helping wherever she was needed.
She was a Legion Member for many years and enjoyed meeting with her friends and trying to win the Meat Draws weekly. Ruth was a very lucky lady, she even had to keep a list of all her prize winnings, which was over 400 items at last count, everything from freezers to watches, clothes, jewellery, fine crystal and so much more, she was in line to win the Big One for sure! Ruth was an avid reader all her life, even with her glaucoma she developed recently. She was a strong woman with a tiny body, her HUGE presence will be missed by many, on many a day, that I do know!
Peace be with you Ruth, Mom, Wife, Grandma, Aunty, Sister, Friend – until we meet again!!!
In lieu of flowers a donation could be made to the Hospital Auxiliary or Salvation Army in Terrace.
Celebration of Ruth’s Life to be held at The Happy Gang Centre for Seniors, 3226 Kalum St, Terrace, B.C., 250-635-9090 on June 4, 2011 at 2 p.m.