Obituary of Ruth Wiest

Wiest, Ruth C. (83) passed from this life into the presence of her Lord on Sunday afternoon November 21st, while recuperating in Spokane from surgery. Ruth Caroline Wiest was born July 8, 1927 at the family farm near Ralston, WA, the fourth child of Gotthilf "Bill" Gross and Rosina (Schaal) Gross. Ruth attended all 12 years at Lind, then moved to the Wenatchee Valley to attend business college, following which she worked for the Employment Office and Northwest Wholesale. On June 26, 1949, Ruth and Alfred Wiest were married in Dryden, WA. After 2 ½ years in Paha, WA, they moved to Hartline, WA. In 1957 the family moved to Odessa, where Ruth resided until her death. Ruth trained and then worked as a nurses' aide for 24 years at the Odessa Memorial Hospital and Convalescent Center. Her knowledge of German helped in taking care of elderly people. Ruth was active in the church and taught Sunday School for many years. Ruth also loved to travel until her health would no longer permit long trips. She was also known far and wide as an excellent kuchen maker. And with her amazing memory she could tell how you were related to someone else. Many people also remember the poems that she wrote for special occasions. Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Alfred Wiest; three sons: Rev. Harold Wiest (Charlene) of Kamloops, B.C., David Wiest (Diane) of Yakima, WA, and Paul Wiest (Pamela) of Oviedo, FL; eight grandchildren - Michael, Joel and Tim Wiest; Anna, Laura and Wendy Wiest; and Jill Hamilton (Edsel) and Lisa Wiest; two sisters, Amanda Goehner of Seattle and Frieda Radach of Moses Lake; and one brother, Jack Gross of Edmonds. Ruth was predeceased by one grandson and two sisters. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday December 3rd at the Heritage Church in Odessa, WA. Arrangements are in care of Danekas Funeral Home-Ritzville, with Pastor Jon Hayashi officiating. Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Association or Odessa Heritage Church.