Ruth 'Ruthie' Lorriane Jones, 92

Ruth “Ruthie” Lorriane Jones passed quietly on March 6, 2018. She was a resident of the Montana Veterans Home.

Ruthie was born Dec. 19, 1925, to her beloved parents, Agnes and Roy Tonkinson, in Dayton. She had three siblings, Mary, John and Tom. They were a close-knit family.

Ruthie married James Allen McDonald on Dec. 3, 1946, and they had seven children together, Becky, Vicki, Clay (Terry), Steve, Josie (Lew Hill), Casey and Carrie. Ruthie and James were later divorced. Later in life, Ruthie married Ivan Eli Jones. They resided in Dayton for over 20 years. In their senior years they were residents of the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. Ivan was an Army veteran and a great citizen.

Ruthie had a blended family, which included Randy Jones, Vickie Jones, Scott Bauska (Kathy), Ken Bauska (Vickie), Janice Geitzen (Jim), and their children. Ken and Vickie Bauska spent many hours visiting and caring for both Ruthie and Ivan once they moved to the Veterans Home. Their help and devotion were priceless.

Many of Ruthie’s caregivers at the Veterans Home were special to her — Maggie, Doug, Barb and the entire Special Care Unit staff. Ruthie’s family is most grateful for the special attention they gave her.

Ruthie was an adventurer at heart. She had many interesting travels during her 92 years. Two notable rendezvous include hopping a train to Seattle with her teenage son, Clay, and a solo bike ride from Kalispell to Helena during her 40s.

Ruthie cherished children, especially her grandchildren Michael and Maggie Orford (Becky) and families, Ashley McDonald (Casey), and Charlie and Luke Jewett (Josie), Brooke, Joel (Jim and Janice Geitzen) and family, Chelsea (Vickie and Ken Bauska) and family, Thomas and Emily (Scott and Kathy Bauska) and family.

Ruthie was an active member of the Dayton community. She adopted five miles of Highway 93 and picked up the litter on that stretch for 20 years. She received an award and plaque from the city for her service. She also taught exercise class to local citizens during that same time. In addition, Ruthie volunteered to help teach students to read at the Procter School for a number of years. Ruthie and Ivan loved their life in the Dayton/Procter community.

During World War II Ruthie went to the West Coast and served her country as a woman in the “Rosie the Riveter” program.

Ruthie was preceded in death by her second husband, Ivan Jones, her first husband, James McDonald, and their children, Casey and Carrie McDonald. She was also preceded in death by her extended family member, Vicki Jones, as well as her parents and siblings.

A memorial service is tentatively planned to be held at 11 a.m. on May 12 at the Proctor School.