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Ruth Berdine of Ponoka passed away peacefully on December 17, 2008 at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre at the age of 97 years. She was born in Perdue (Milo), Oregon on April 24, 1911, and came to Ponoka in 1914 with her family. She grew up on the bank of Chain Lake and attended Scott School. She took her high school in Ponoka in 1930-31, then attended Camrose Normal School. She spent 16 years teaching at various one-room schools in Alberta. She started her career up north at Grassland, then taught at schools closer to home: Rutherford, Leedale, Birch Lake, Grand Meadow, Bismark and Scott School. In 1939, at Leedale, she had 50 students from grade 1 to 9! During this time, she boarded with several families, some of which became life-long friends. From 1948 to 1972, Ruth taught Grade two at Ponoka School, and acted as Vice-Principal for 17 years. During the summers, she attended University to upgrade her training. In later years, she enjoyed traveling, and her main passion became the study of her family roots, all the way back to William the Conqueror, and making a record of the descendants of her parents – Mack and Belle Berdine. Ruth loved to knit, sew, and crochet, and she was always at the farm when there was work to be done or fun to be had. She loved the outdoors, and she grew a beautiful garden. Ruth always loved children, and this was evident in her success as a teacher. Ruth had a good sense of humour, and a very keen mind. She was very generous with her time and her money. She was a member of the Rebecca Lodge, the Retired Teacher’s Association, and the United Church Women. The United Church was very important to her, and a big part of her life. Although she has been faced with a great deal of adversity in the last few years, and especially in the last year, she has met these challenges with strength and courage. Ruth’s birthstone, the diamond, has proven to be very fitting for her, as she truly fits the dictionary definition of a diamond – a person possessing very high character and other fine qualities. Ruth will be sadly missed by her family: nieces and nephews Dianne (Wayne) Carr and family; Carroll Borg and family; Dennis (Aubrey) Berdine and family; Monica (Bud) Hoover and family; Willene Coy and family; Stuart (June) Berdine and family; and Lawrence Fleming and family; as well as numerous other great nieces and nephews and a host of friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Mack and Belle Berdine; her sister Nellie Fleming; her brothers Jay, Clark and Earl Berdine; and several nieces and nephews. A Funeral Service was held at the Ponoka United Church at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 22nd with the Interment Service following at Forest Home Cemetery. Memorial donations are gratefully accepted to the Ponoka United Church or any charity of your choice.


Arrangements Entrusted To Ponoka Funeral Home

~ A Wombold Family Funeral Home ~