Ruth Vestal was born in the Big Sandy area 90 years ago and passed away at Peace Hospice in Great Falls on Monday, June 11 ^th after a very brief illness. Although Ruth's early life was rough, she found stability when she became a foster daughter of Richard & Louise Bush of Big Sandy. Educated at Sacred Heart Nursing School in Havre as an RN, Ruth moved to Fort Benton where she met her future husband, Clair Sykes. Ruth worked at the Saint Claire Hospital in Fort Benton, then later joined Clair in building the family business, Price Rite, which they later sold to their son and daughter-in-law.

Ruth never met a craft she didn't love. Quilting was a favorite, as was about anything using fabric. She loved to make handmade gifts for family for Christmas, as well as sew shaving kits for the Kairos Youth Services in Great Falls. She had already begun working on shaving kits for their Christmas 2018 gifts! Mom LOVED to play cards, especially Hand and Foot! She often enjoyed hours of card playing with her three girls during their "slumber parties" at her house. She was blessed to have spent several days during her last week playing cards with her sister Judy, who often would visit her for card-playing retreats.

Ruth and Clair enjoyed three years of travel down south to Parker & Quartsite in Yuma, AZ and in the Good Sam's camping group and made many good friends and memories. They enjoyed many overseas trips; special places that she and Clair traveled to were Hawaii two times, Mexico, Germany, Europe, Austria and Switzerland.

She could often be found at the Golden Age Center enjoying lunch and doing jigsaw puzzles. She was awarded the honor of "Senior Citizen Of The Year". She was active in the Fort Benton United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and Eastern Star, of which she was a member since 1953.

Ruth is survived by her four children; Penny (Barry) Day; Jamie (Lee)Hader-Beck; Rod (Shannon) Sykes and Janel(Wes) Novak and her special sisters, Judy Pleskac, Nicki Lubrich and Melanie Bush and sister in law Opal Sykes Semenza Enquist. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Clair, infant daughter Darcy, son-in-law Larry, great granddaughter Daisy and her three older brothers Jack, Alvis & Beets Vestal.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 13, 2018 at Fort Benton United Methodist Church. At Ruth's request in lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Kairos Youth Services, P.O Box 3066, Great Falls, Montana 59405; Peace Hospice, 1101 26 ^th St. S., Great Falls, Montana, 59405, Great Falls Rescue Mission, 408 2 ^nd Ave. S., Great Falls, Montana 59405 or to the donor's choice. Benton Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Ruth's online memorial page at www.bentonfh.com to leave a message of condolence for her family.