Ruth Barker

Ruth Barker, 84, passed away on Jan. 11, 2005 at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton, Calif. She was a resident of Flathead County for 27 years. Ruth was born Dece. 17, 1920 in Springfield, Mass. She was raised and educated in Providence, Rhode Island. She married Jensen Clark Barker on Aug. 26, 1944 in Kings Chapel in Boston, Mass. They were happily married for 60 years and four months. In 1978 Jensen retired and he and Ruth moved to Bigfork where they lived for five years and then moved to Forest Hill Village in Kalispell. She was a librarian in Gonzales, Calif. and Twin Falls, Idaho and volunteered at the Bigfork Library. She loved to fish, bowl, camp and sew.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years Jensen Clark Barker of Kalispell and her daughter Joan Barker of Stockton, Calif.

Ruth suffered heart problems since 1990. She underwent two heart by-pass surgeries and had an artificial heart mitral heart valve. A memorial fund h as been established in Ruth Barker's name at the International Heart Institute of Montana Foundation at 554 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the memorial fund. A memorial service will be scheduled later in the spring for friends and family.