Obituary: Jensen, Ruth Roland Williams
Age 96
Ruth was a loving mother, best friend, and intimate confidante to her four children: Jan Goss, Dallas, TX; Jean Blalock, Dallas TX; Rob Jensen, Baltimore, MD; and Julie Aoki, Bothell, WA.
She was the doting grandmother of Aaron and Kristin Goss, Adam and Bonnie Blalock, Anna and Mikey Jensen, and Ben and Caitlin Aoki, and a new great grandmother to Hudson Goss.
Because of her pivotal role in the lives of her family, everyone called her ‘Mama Ruth’.
Ruth was born September 19, 1918, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
She met her husband, Bob, at church in St. Louis, MO, where he was a medical student.
Ruth and Bob eventually settled in Spokane, where they lived for over 60 years.
In Spokane, Bob had a busy urology practice and Ruth did ‘everything’ else— to say she was an active woman was an understatement.
Ruth did her own housework, household finances, home repairs and yard work— shoveling snow well into her eighties.
Her favorite Mother’s Day gift was her very own cement mixer!
Ruth was a gifted artist, whose talents were refocused on kids’ and grandkids’ school projects, crafts for various charities, and painting the house.
It was not unusual to find her on a tall ladder painting the second story windows, supervised by her husband holding the ladder below.
Ruth was deeply involved in the Spokane community.
For over 30 years, she was on the board for Hutton Settlement, a place for children in need.
There she also sewed curtains for the cottages, planted flowers, ordered Christmas presents, and made decorations for the annual Achievement Dinner— often out of things like recycled tuna cans (you might say she was part of the ‘green craft’ movement).
Ruth was also a member of PEO, Women of Rotary, and the Deaconess Hospital Auxiliary.
She was active in her children’s activities, such as the Camp Fire Girls and Cub Scouts, and was the chauffeur for an overabundance of kids’ activities and sports teams.
Ruth was not a natural athlete and while she made valiant attempts at golf and skiing, she was better suited for bowling; eventually winning a 4-inch trophy bowling that was proudly displayed on her mantle for years.
Ruth was a simple, honest, hardworking and loving woman who gave tirelessly to others and expected nothing in return.
She requested a private memorial service for family members only.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Ruth Jensen Alumni Fund at the Hutton Settlement in Spokane (huttonsettlement.org).
Mrs. Jensen, Ruth, Ruthie, Mom, Mama Ruth—we are proud your spirit lives within us.
We will miss you, we will always remember you, and we will forever love you.