Ruth Althea Westover

Ruth Althea Rowe married William Ruthvin Westover on March 1st., 1883 after a continuous seven year courtship. Only twice during those seven years did they have a falling out and this only lasted two or three days. Their wedding was a happy one. Ruth had a wonderful trousseau and they were given a splendid wedding supper by Ann Westover, the grooms' mother. All of the immediate family and many friends were present. Soon after their marriage they moved into a little home of their own and here their first child was born on December 27, 1883, William Ernest. Ruth nearly lost her life from the birth of this child. Complications set in and her recovery was slow. She was administered to by her father, who promised her she would get well and raise her family and this she did. In the fall of 1884 they moved to Cabin, Idaho, a place situated between Oxford and Arimo, perhaps where Downy now is. Here they worked hard taking in boarders and William worked on the section. The 26th of February 1886, they moved back to Mendon, Utah where their second child was born, Arthur Edwin. After the baby arrived they moved to Rexburg, Idaho which at that time was just being settled. They lived in town the first year and then moved to a homestead one mile north of Rexburg. Here they spent the rest of their lives. Like many homesteads at the time the ground was rough and covered with sagebrush and being unable to clear the land and improve the needed ditches they raised very few crops the first 2 or 3 years. In spite of this they were industrious. At first they built a one room house with a dirt roof where they lived for several years before building a 4 room house. They were thrifty and worked hard to provide the necessities of life, even so it was necessary to put the children to bed while their clothes were being washed and dried, as a change of clothes was completely out of the question. Flour was acquired from wheat that was given in exchange for a work at threshing season. Were it not for two cows that they had it would have seemed impossible to exist. Also the mosquito's were so thick at times it was necessary to eat with one hand and fight mosquito's with the other. Many times they were discouraged and much depressed. In spite of these hardships they were devote members of the church and paid an honest tithing. It was not long before they began to realize some rewards for the hardships and sacrifices which they endured. No doubt they would have become well to do as well to do might have been defined in those days were it not for sickness that crept and caused the death of their first girl, Hazel Ann, just two years old. This was a great blow, but was bravely born. This tragedy occurred the thirteenth of February 1895. Ruth was blessed with seven more children in her Rexburg home, they are: Floyd Delbert, Ray Findley, Hazel Ann, Arnold, Zena Althea, Myrtle Elizabeth, and Lorin. In the fall of 1903 her husband became very ill and underwent an operation from which he could not recover and died on the 29th of October. Ruth was left a widow with eight children to raise. They were between the ages of 1 year and 16 years old. This was almost beyond her realization and then in 1904 the family became sick with Typhoid Fever. Ernest and Floyd, being the worst. Floyd had pneumonia with his. This illness following the death of her beloved husband was too much for Ruth and she lost her mind. It seems that her trials were beyond her physical ability to endure. She fought a hard battle but never completely regained her health. She won though because she raised her family of eight children and was very proud of them. She died the seventeenth of April 1914 surrounded by her children.

(Given at her funeral by her son, Don Ard) Myrtle Elizabeth Westover Ard was born December 19, 1899, in Rexburg, Idaho to William Ruthvin Westover and Ruth Althea Rowe. She was the 8th child in a family of nine children. All of her brothers and Sisters preceded her in death. Her youngest brother, Lorin, having died in Aug. 1982. Her father died when she was 3 years old, in 1903. The worry and responsibility of 8 fatherless children was too much for her mother to take and in the fall of 1904 her health broke and the family had to live with someone else. Grandma attended elementary school for 8 years in Rexburg. She told us about remembering going home from school one day to find the pigs all around the house. They had rooted open the door of the house and got inside. They had spilled a 5 gallon crock of cream on the flop and wallowed in it. They really had a mess to clean up that day. Her mother passed away in April 1914. The unmarried children lived at the ranch with her brother, Arnold, and his wife Mary. That fall Grandma moved to Clementsville, Idaho to live with her brother Floyd, & wife Margaret. She worked out as a hired girl to many neighbors as a teenager. While she was there she met Grandpa, Joseph Napoleon Ard. They had a lot of good times together. They became very fond of each other. They became engaged in April 1918, and he gave her a diamond ring about a month later. In July 1918 Grandpa left to join the Army because World War I was being fought and he wanted to do what he could to protect this country. Grandma continued to live with Floyd and Margaret and help out where ever she could. In early 1919 word was received that everyone on the Westover ranch was sick. So Grandma went to the ranch to help out. Later she too came down with the flu. They were all very sick and weak. On Nov. 11, 1918 the armistice was signed and the war was over. Grandpa returned home in March 1919 and went to live on the 160 acres he had homesteaded at Richvale, Idaho, before he went into the Army. He had built a 12 x 14 cabin, a barn, cistern, and fenced the whole place before he left. Grandma and Grandpa were married May 7, 1919, at Clementsville, at Floyd's home, by bishop Cecil T. Clements. It was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple in 1956. To this union, 4 sons, Lysle, Cleon, Donald & Doyle; 5 daughters, Wanda, Eva, Anona, Nadean & Nelda were born. After Wanda was born, their cabin was too small and Grandpa, with the help of friends & neighbors, added two more rooms to it, and put a pot-bellied stove for heat in the new addition. The babies came every 1 1/2 to 2 years and life was hard for them trying to make a living there. Many years their crops were either frozen or hailed out before the harvest. They had none of today's modern equipment and furnishings. There were no electric lights. Their lights were kerosene and gas. After some years, they had a battery powered radio (not transistor) with ear phones. No running water, no washing machine until after their 4th child was born. Grandma washed all their clothing on a scrub board until then. They butchered and cared for their own meat together. They had no sewing machine for many years. Grandma had to design and make what she could by hand. She bottled several bushel of fruit every summer and always raised a big garden. She helped Grandpa in the fields a lot. Most of their children were born at home with the help of a midwife. They attended community dances at which Grandpa often played the piano. The fall after their last child was born, Grandpa got a job on the State Highway maintenance crew in Driggs. He boarded in Driggs that winter and moved his family there the following spring and summer, after crops were harvested. During World War II their three oldest sons served in the service for their country. Lysle, in the Marines; Cleon in the Army; and Donald in the Navy. Later, during the Korean war, their youngest son, Doyle, served in the National Guard. It was about this time that Grandpa & Grandma bought a large log home south of Driggs. Their daughter, Nelda, and her family later bought this home from her after Grandpa died in 1966. Grandma worked at the hospital in Driggs doing laundry and general cleaning for 16 years. Grandma's hands were always busy mending, or making something, crocheting or knitting. Each of her children have a lovely large table cloth and afghan she has made for them. She took care of several elderly ladies for about 4 years after Grandpa died. Many times living right in their homes with them. Grandma has been active in the LDS church, attending her meetings and the temple whenever her health would permit. She always had a strong testimony of the gospel. She was also active in DUP & Senior Citizen activities. Grandma enjoyed her family and took great pride in each one of them and their accomplishments. Her home was always open to family and friends. She was a good cook, and many here today will long remember the tasty meals eaten around her table. There was always a bag of home made cookies open for everyone to enjoy; also pies, cakes, carmeled pop corn, home made peanut brittle, and many other things. She always seemed to sense when company would come and was always prepared. Even the last day of her life she had prepared a large kettle of her delicious home made stew. She must have known there would soon be a crowd around again to eat it She passed away Friday evening, December 3, 1983, at her home in Rexburg. Besides her 9 children, she is survived by 50 grand children and 99 great grandchildren. The 100th one is expected about the time of her birthday this month. Grandma's lively, cheerful attitude was an inspiration to all who knew her. She always was an early riser. She spent many hours writing letters to children and grand children. She was thoughtful of other people's feelings. She always admonished her family to be honest and truthful at all times. Some memories of growing up from the family: Sleeping in a bedroom with only a curtain to divide girls side from boys side. Thaw out cold feet on the oven door of a coal stove. Cut cardboard insoles to cover holes in a shoe. Hot mustard plasters on chest to break up a cold. Newborn pigs in box behind stove to keep them from freezing. Long rope tied to a horse's tail for a ski tow. Riding to or from school in a covered sleigh with a stove inside, called the "ding-bump-us." Slingshot made from strips of old inner tube and tied to a willow crotch. Brushed teeth with salt and soda. Strung pop corn for Christmas decorations. Received one toy for Christmas and was happy. Getting whopped with razor strap. Baths in a No. 2 galvanized tub in front of coal stove. Rides on runners of bob-sleigh. Walking 1 1/2 miles each way to school in fall, winter, or spring. Bottle fed a bum lamb. Hot rock taken to bed to keep feet warm. Ice in water buckets winter in the kitchen. Grandma appreciated any and all acts of kindness and concern shown to her by her family, friends, and neighbors. We, as her family express thanks to each one here who has done or said anything to or for her that has made her life easier or brightened a day for her. In closing, I have a poem I'd like to read that fit Grandma. Mother's Old Checkered Apron My mother's old checkered apron was a garment full and wide. It served a humble purpose, and a million more beside. It was made of six-cent gingham, it was neither fine or grand Just a plain and simple garment fashioned by a busy hand. It had a little cross stitch across the bottom row, and two long strings that tied behind in a sort of half-hitch bow. It had no lace or ruffles nor pretty applique, but its simple humble usefulness was an epic of its day. It was used to shoo the chickens, to dust, to shoo the flies, It was used to wipe the grimy tears from little children's eyes. It was used to fill the kindling box with cobs and chips and twigs, and tote the pesky parsley in from garden, to the pigs. It was used to bring home eggs concealed beneath leafy boughs, and to bring in half drowned chickens caught out in April showers. It was used to snatch hot kettles when no hot pad was at hand, and to tighten on fruit jar lids when winter stores were canned. It was used to gather garden stuff and peaches from the hill, and many a goodly mess of greens did Mother's apron fill. Her hands were shielded from the gales beneath its sheltering folds and tiny feet were nestled there on mornings bleak and cold, it was a queenly garment and mother was a queen: and as memory brings it back, it was a noble thing. And when I join the heavenly throng with their robes so white and fair, I'll say, 'This old checkered apron is what I want to wear.