Ruth A. Medina died March 24, 2009, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.

She was born Ruth Margie Anderson on Feb. 7, 1922, in Salem, Idaho, to Leonel and Hilda (Hokanson) Anderson. She was the seventh of eight children. She graduated from high school in Rigby, Idaho.

After graduation she moved to Bountiful, Utah, where she met John Dale Ashby. They married on Oct. 10, 1940, in the Salt Lake temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They had one child, Meridel Ruth. When World War II started, Dale joined the Army, and Ruth and Meridel moved to San Diego. Ruth and Dale were divorced June 11, 1946.

She married Manuel "Manny" V. Medina on Sept. 18, 1955, in Chula Vista, Calif. They had three children, Marla, Mark and Anthony "Tony".

Ruth was an exceptionally accomplished seamstress. She was pleased to make her daughter-in-law Sandra's and granddaughter Lara's wedding dresses. She had a talent for decorating her home and developed her talent as an artist while in her 60s. Ruth loved to go dancing and enjoyed music. She loved to travel and visit with family and friends, and was interested in learning new things. The most important aspect of Ruth's life was always her family.

Ruth is survived by her daughter, Meridel Barden, of Kalispell, and Meridel's children, Summer and Ben Hawke of British Columbia, Brett and Leslie Barden of Vista, Calif., and Lara and Rob Mahar of Jupiter, Fla.; her son, Mark Medina, and his wife, Sandra, and their four children, Bradley, Emma, Hannah and Samuel, of Chula Vista; her son, Anthony "Tony" Davis, of Los Angeles; and her sister, Edith Lay, of Green Castle, Mo. She is also survived by her six great-grandchildren, Sierra, Rachel and Mackenzie Hawke, and Tsali, Yona and Sage Mahar; several nieces and nephews; and numerous loved ones in Manny's family.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Mildred, Goldie, May, Howard, Vernon and Keith; as well as her daughter, Marla, who died July 20, 1962, in San Diego; her husband, Manny, who died July 25, 2000, in Chula Vista; and her son-in-law, Jim Barden, who died Feb. 1, 2004, in Kalispell.

There will be a memorial service for Ruth in Chula Vista at a later date and she will be buried in San Diego alongside her husband, Manny, and daughter, Marla.

The family expresses their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Immanuel Lutheran, as well as to the nurses with Hospice for the warm and gentle care given to Ruth during her difficult years.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family. To send condolences, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com.