Ruth Whisler

Ruth Belle Whisler passed away peacefully at her daughter?s home in Rapid City, SD on April 5, 2006 of congestive heart failure. Ruth was born May 30, 1904 to Thomas and Druscilla (Kite) Johnson, in a log cabin near the small town of Hardy, Arkansas. She was the third of six siblings. Her first 5 years were spent on the farm where she and her two elder sisters spent many happy hours in the woods picking wild flowers, grapes, and nuts. At the age of 5, Ruth moved with her family to Kansas in a covered wagon, pulled by a mule and a horse, and she attended her first three years of school there. In 1912 she and her family moved again by covered wagon to Oklahoma where they spent one year. In December 1913 they moved back to Kansas for a month and then on to Wyoming, arriving in Moorcroft on April 1, 1914 by covered wagon. She attended the Well Creek School through the 8th grade and then Rozet High School, graduating in the second graduating class in 1924. After graduation, Ruth attended summer school in Buffalo and a teacher?s institute, and then taught school at the Ely School north of Moorcroft. On April 28, 1926, she married Elmer Whisler in the Presbyterian Manse in Gillette. She spent the first nine years of married life in the Rozet community, three of those years on a homestead 7 miles north of Rozet. During those years, her first two children were born, Eurith in 1927 and Philip in 1928. In 1935 Ruth and her family migrated to the west coast where they spent about seven years, following the harvests. In 1938 the family moved to Idaho Falls, ID for a short time then back to OR. Ruth?s youngest child, Joan, was born in 1939 in OR. She and her family then moved to Whitefish, MT for a short time and again returned to OR. Ruth?s husband worked in the shipyards in Portland, OR during the war years and then in 1942 she and her family moved back to WY. They bought a ranch southeast of Rozet and farmed and raised cattle. In 1948 they bought a ranch 10 miles northeast of Rozet and Ruth resided there until her death. In 1943 Ruth began teaching again and continued until her retirement in 1969. She taught almost entirely in one-room country schools, many years having students in all eight grades. During her teaching career she also earned her Degree at Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish, SD and graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She dearly loved teaching children and until her death she could remember almost every child she ever taught, what school they were in and what grade. Ruth was widowed in 1968 but continued ranching, raising cattle and sheep with the help of her brother, Kermit, until 1986. Ruth learned to bowl after her retirement from teaching and she bowled in the Tea Time League in Moorcroft for 15 years, then in Gillette for several more years. She traveled through most of the United States, parts of Canada, and toured the Mid East following Paul?s Missionary Journeys. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Gillette, and taught Sunday school for 4 years. She later served as a Deacon for 15 years. She volunteered for the Campbell County Hospital Auxiliary for 7 years, working in the Gift Shop and making puppet mice for the children. She later crocheted over 1200 baby caps for the hospital as a church project. She also crocheted many afghans, bedspreads, doilies, and tablecloths. She enjoyed painting, working with ceramics, sewing, gardening and having her grandchildren around her. She had a fantastic memory and enjoyed talking about early times. She was called on many times to speak to school students and other organizations about the history of Campbell County, her journey to Wyoming, and what life was like for her in her early years. She particularly enjoyed speaking to the school students. She liked to walk and until about 3 years ago, she walked every day, weather permitting, for a mile. Ruth spent 37 1/2 years on the ranch alone, never wanting to move to town because she couldn?t see the wide open spaces, the beautiful wild flowers, and the wild and tame animals unless she were in the country. She was still able to drive and was very proud of being able to renew her driver?s license at the age of 100. She drove herself to Gillette for supplies and to church up until her death. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Elmer; her parents; her sisters Edna and Myrtle and brothers Fred and Kermit. She is survived by her children, Eurith (Ralph) Romel of Rapid City, SD, Philip R. (Toshiko) Whisler of Roseville, CA, Joan (Ron) Miller of Laurel, MT; grandchildren Karen (John) Hansen of Kalispell, MT, Terry (Cerise) Romel of Vancouver, WA, Mark Whisler of Vancouver, WA, Randy (Karen) Whisler of Portsmouth, NH, and Craig (Stephanie) Kuntz of Tigard, OR; great grandchildren, Heather (Thomas) Hansen-Munro of Durango, CO, Ryan Whisler of Vancouver, WA, Miranda, Parker and Paige Kuntz of Tigard, OR, Emily and Luke Whisler of Portsmouth, NH; great-great grandchildren Britton Hansen and Clara Munro of Durango, CO; step-grandchildren Scott Miller of Laurel, MT and Becky Williams of Moorsville, NC; step-great grandchildren Nathaniel and Alena Williams of Moorsville, NC; and sister Faye Wolfe of Tigard, OR. Mom/Grandma, there is no way we can thank you for all that you?ve done for us throughout our lives. Your sacrifice was great and your love unconditional. We love you and will forever miss you.