Ruth Marie Brooks, 93

Ruth Marie Brooks went home to her Lord and Savior on March 9, 2022. Mom’s faith was strong and now she is at peace and in a much better place. She passed at Hospice in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She lived with her son Michael and daughter-in-law Margie for over two years until being admitted to Hospice.

Ruth was born in Spokane, Wash., on Jan. 9, 1929. She was the eldest of three siblings, sister Carol Klinzman, and brother Jim Baker. Her parents were Fred and Neva Baker who raised their children in Enaville, Idaho, which is just up the road from the Snake Pit bar & grill. Her house was across the road from the silver bridge on the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene river. Mom loved spending about every summer day swimming with friends and family under the bridge, probably the best swimming hole on the river. Her Dad Fred worked in the woods and the railroad, and her mother Neva was a registered nurse but forego nursing to be a stay-at-home mom.

Mom married Walter R. Hill on Sept. 14, 1946, in Superior, Mont. Together they raised five children in the small mining community of Page, Idaho. They are Chuck, Colleen, Mike, Randy, and John. While Walt worked at the Page Mine, mom raised her kids. She never learned to drive, and Dad had the only car for work. Mom’s passion was taking care and nurturing her children. She was always there for her kids, and we were a handful as you can imagine, living in a very small house. Money was tight so there wasn’t much traveling on vacation, but we all loved camping and fishing and we did lots of that.

After Walt passed in 1970 Ruth remarried in 1984 to Jess Brooks and they lived in the Spokane Valley in a beautiful spacious home. It was comforting to her kids to see her enjoying the creature comforts she didn’t have in Page, although she never complained. Jess and Ruth did some traveling and really enjoyed friends and family. After she moved to Post Falls with her son and daughter-in law she enjoyed attending Peace Lutheran Church, especially Pastor Jon’s sermons tinted with humor. Mom also enjoyed almost daily walks, sitting outside in the summer shade reading, and watching Lawrence Welk every Saturday night.

Ruth is preceded in death by her first husband Walt, her second husband Jess, sister Carol, brother Jim, parents Fred and Neva, son Chuck, and daughter Colleen. She is survived by sons Mike and wife Margie, Randy, John, and wife Theda as well as grandchildren Shelley, Christy, Tori, Kari, Katie, Lisa, Valerie, Jensen, Ashleigh, Joe, Jamie, and Jonni. She is also survived by numerous great-grandkids and great-great-grandchildren.

I think this might capture the feelings of all of us who loved Mom so much: “If Tears Could Build a Stairway, and Memories Make a Lane, I’d Walk Right up to Heaven and Bring You Home Again”

There will be a private Family Memorial for mom April 24, on the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River.