Ruth Howes
Ruth Beatrice Bloom was born in Alba, Pennsylvania on July 27th, 1894. After attending school in Illinois and New York, she received a Bachelor of Education degree with Honors from Bethany College, in West Virginia.
She married Thomas H. Howes whom she met during college in June of 1917. In 1925 they moved with their three daughters – Esther, Annis, Irma – to Willow Farm in Millet, where they made their home until their retirement to the town of Millet in 1965.
Ruth Howes did her share of spadework – in her home, her community, and in much wider spheres. She was active in the Hillside United Farm Women Association, serving as president and as secretary. She was on the executive of the Millet Women’s Institute, and went on to become the Provincial Vice-President in 1935. In 1955, Ruth became President of the Alberta’s Women Institute. In 1955, the Council of the Alberta Women’s Institute made Ruth a life member of the Provincial Women Institute. During the period of her office, she served as a delegate to conferences in Toronto, Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka) and Edinburgh, to name a few. Later, Ruth also completed a bibliography of Mrs. Adelaide Hunter Hoodless, founder of the Women’s Institute, as requested by the National Organization.
Ruth was a woman of many interests, including serving on Executive committees of the Alberta Red Cross, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Consumers Association of Canada and many other community and provincial organizations. From 1925 – 1966, Ruth worked hard for many causes to better social, educational, cultural, and economic conditions of the people in not only Alberta, but also in Canada.
She was a tireless and conscientious worker, and left her mark on all with whom she came in contact with. She was a loving, helpful wife to her husband and sacrificed her time and efforts to see that her daughters had good educations at home and school.
In 1977, Ruth and Thomas moved to the Peace Hills Senior Lodge in Wetaskiwin, where Thomas died in April of 1981. Ruth continued to be active in her community until she passed away in July of 1988.
