Obituary: Funnell, Ruth Elizabeth Lehn
Age 97
Ruth was born Ruth Elizabeth Williams March 20, 1917, to John D. and Mary A. Williams, a pioneer family in the Mondovi area, Lincoln County, Washington.
Ruth graduated from Reardan High School and Spokane Business College.
She was married to Milton “Jack” Lehn, a rancher and farmer in the Espanola area and they had three children.
Upon the untimely death of Jack, Ruth was employed by Washington Water Power Company until her retirement in 1982.
In 1985 she married Lyle Funnell.
They made their home in Spokane until 1997 when they moved to Bellevue, WA to be near her daughters.
They moved to Pacific Regent retirement home where health care was provided to Mr. Funnell and Ruth took an apartment in the same facility to be near him.
She treasured her friends in Spokane and enjoyed the many friends she made at Pacific Regent.
Ruth was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Spokane and a former member of Women of Rotary.
She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and quilt making.
At the age of 84, her interest in painting was realized.
She chose watercolor and shared her images in Christmas cards.
Nothing was more important to her nor brought her greater joy than being with her family.
She is survived by Janet Stevens (Rich) of Bellevue, WA.
; M. Dale Lehn (Carmel) of Saint Thomas, V.I.
; Mary DeFriel (Jack) of Kirkland, WA.
; stepdaughter Gayle Dunlap (Robert) of Tiburon, CA.
; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Ruth was preceded in death by her sisters Esther Halverson and Marie Holderby; and by brothers Earl, Harold, Ralph and Howard Williams.
She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Reardan Presbyterian Church of Reardan, WA or the American Cancer Society.
A memorial service is planned for 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 1, 2014 at the Reardan Presbyterian Church at 150 W. Spokane Ave, Reardan, WA.
Ruth chose to come home to the church where she was born, baptized and married.