Ruth Elizabeth Johannesen Shane died Wednesday morning, Feb. 8, 2006, at her home in Moscow. She was 72.
Ruth was born May 21, 1933, in Emmett, Idaho, to Brynhild and Carl Johannesen. She was the fifth of six children.
She went to Central Mesa Elementary School, where she had to walk about 5 miles daily to and from home. As she grew older she had a horse and occasionally rode it. She enjoyed the Central Mesa atmosphere, and her classmates have remained great friends through the years. She later attended Emmett High School and graduated in June 1951.
She enrolled at the University of Idaho in Moscow, majoring in home economics, and lived in Forney Hall. A very enjoyable part of her studies was when she lived in the Home Management House with six other girls and Miss Newcombe, a favorite teacher. Ruth graduated in 1955 with a bachelor's degree in home economics. During her college years she was active in Forney Hall, collegiate 4-H, and campus activities.
She was engaged to Bill Shane of Emmett in 1951, and they were married in June of 1955.
She continued her studies and worked in home economic research at the university, and later became the Latah County home demonstration agent. She loved working with the hundreds of 4-H youth and families, and still maintained contact with many of them.
In 1957 she and Bill became proctor and hostess for Lindley Hall, a men's dormitory on campus. This was another special highlight as she became both "mother" and friend to many young men over the years, some older than she was.
In 1964 she was appointed Gooding County (Idaho) home demonstration agent, and again gained a large following of friends among the 4-H youth, their families, and other agents. She continued this until 1967 when they moved to Chehalis, Wash. She served for a while as 4-H agent for Lewis County, Wash.
Shortly after this time Ruth became involved in the People-To-People Citizen Ambassadors program. She traveled over all the United States, arranging for 4-H youth from many states to travel to Europe, Russia and Scandinavia during the summers.
In 1971 Ruth joined Pullman Travel Service and continued this program until her death.
In 1973 she began work for Linda's World of Travel in Pullman as a bookkeeper. She then worked at Travel By Thompson, which later became Departures Travel.
She continued her love of travel, and did as much as she could. Ruth's parents' family were all in Norway, so she escorted her mother there for several trips, and continued visiting often.
Cruising was by far her favorite way to travel, and she has had over 18 cruises to various parts of the world. In July, Ruth and Bill were accompanied by several family members on a 50th anniversary cruise to Alaska.
Ruth loved people. She was friendly, enjoyed cooking, socializing, being with people, and was a cancer survivor. She was an active member of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Daughters of the Nile, Moscow Family & Consumer Sciences, Ladies of the Moose and the University of Idaho Retirees Association.
Family meant a lot to Ruth, and she kept in close touch with as many as possible. Surviving are her husband, Bill, at their Moscow home; brothers, Erling and Amy Johannesen of Emmett and Mesa, Ariz., Carl and Tia Johannesen of Boston, Mass.; her sister, Gladys and Vern Rekow of Emmett; and several nieces and nephews.
A sister, Lillian, and brother, Widding, preceded her in death.
The memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17 at Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow, with the Rev. Gordon Braun, Good Samaritan Village chaplain, officiating. The committal service will be held at Emmett Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the Shrine Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210; the University of Idaho; or a favorite charity.
