Ruth Mary Preston

As the sun set across the Whitman County wheat fields on November 10, 2021 Ruth Mary Preston went peacefully to heaven while surrounded by her family. Ruth Mary was born on November 22, 1938 to Cornelia and Fred Buob in Spokane, Wash. A granddaughter of Washington state pioneers, she was raised on her grandparent’s farm where she later raised her own family. She graduated from Rosalia High School in 1956 and married her high school sweetheart, David Preston on October 6, 1957. This past October they celebrated 64 blessed years of marriage.

Ruth Mary was an integral part of the Rosalia Community. Her faith in Jesus Christ meant everything to her and she shared it with others. Over the years she was an active member of the Rosalia United Methodist Church, Community Church of the Bible in Spokane Valley and Rosalia Assembly of God. She served as a Sunday School teacher and church pianist. Community involvement included being a Camp Fire Girls leader, Rainbow Girls Mother Advisor and Community Float ambassador. She worked at the Rosalia schools as a cook, where she always greeted all the children with a smile and friendly greeting. Every year she baked cookies for the annual Garden Club cookie exchange.

Traveling to see America was a true joy for her. Her goal was to visit every state in the union and she came very close to achieving it. A camper bus in the ’70s was a way to take the five children on adventures to National Parks throughout the West. Yellowstone was her favorite park. Touring with the Rosalia Community Float over several decades included trips throughout Washington, the Okanogan Valley in British Columbia and as far east as Butte, Montana.

Ruth Mary loved a good celebration, whether birthdays, weddings, or the birth of a child. She had a gift for creating beautiful cakes and volunteered her time and talent to the community, making many memorable cakes over the years. Timely sending cards for birthdays or other milestones, was part of her ministry of loving others. Tea Parties were one of her favorite things to host or attend.

Family was the most important part of her life. She rarely missed an event for her children or grandchildren, traveling around the county or country to attend sporting events, dance or music recitals, rodeos, school plays, and the Whitman County fair. Her traditional annual Christmas letter shared news of the latest trip or updates on her children, grandchildren or great grandchildren.

Ruth Mary is survived by her husband David, children Connie (Gene) Conradi, Nancy Preston, Vernon (Sarah) Preston, Mary Castanon, and Melanie (Anton) Faulk, sister Judy Littleton and sisters-in-law Kay Boyles and Kathie Lindquist, 16 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Cornelia Buob, moms Annette Quantz and Pearl Rochet, brother Leland Lindquist, and grandson Tanner Conradi.

We are grateful to the many caring friends who walked her life’s journey and would like to thank the caring staff of the Rosalia and Colfax Volunteer Ambulance Crews, the Whitman Health and Rehab Center and Whitman Hospital for assisting in her end of life care.

A celebration of the life of Ruth Mary Preston will be held on November 22, 2021, which would have been her 83rd birthday, at the Rosalia United Methodist Church at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Rosalia Ambulance Fund (PO Box 291, Rosalia. WA 99170 ) or the Gideons. On-line guest book is at http://www.cheneyfuneral.com.