» Ruth Regina Develbiss Riley

Friday, July 25, 2008 | No comments posted. Ruth Regina Develbiss Riley

March 20, 1916 - July 11, 2008

Utah

Ruth Regina DeVelbiss Riley, cherished mother, grandmother, sister and friend died peacefully with her family at her side at the age of 92 while convalescing at the Orem Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Ruth was born to George Ernest and Flora Boucher DeVelbiss March 20, 1916, in Lakeside. She died July 11, 2008.

Ruth was the fourth of seven children. Raised for the most part in Reedsport during the Great Depression, she graduated from Reedsport High School in 1934 as valedictorian of her class. She also excelled in sports and was captain of the interscholastic volleyball team her junior and senior years. She married her high school sweetheart, Ronald LeRoy Riley on April 5, 1936, and the couple subsequently settled in Bandon to raise a family of three children. During those early years of marriage, she was active in the community and in the Order of Eastern Star, the women’s affiliate of the Masons.

Ruth became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 37 and whole-heartedly served in many callings throughout her life. Her family gratefully calls her the spiritual “pioneer” of the family.

Eventually moving to Utah, she took family history classes at Brigham Young University and found a job in sales at ZCMI, where she worked until she retired at the age of 70. In her retirement years, she completed three missions for the LDS church: as a worker in the Washington, DC. temple, as a worker in the Johannesburg, South Africa temple, and as a family history volunteer in Salt Lake City.

Ruth loved her family dearly, never backed down from the truth, never gave up in the face of adversity and always tried to touch the lives of others for good. She will be forever loved by family and friends and deeply missed until they meet again.

She is survived by a sister, Nelda June Hachler; brother, Richard Ernest DeVelbiss; children, Ronelda Lee Connors (Roger), David George Riley (Linda), and Kathleen Ann Staples (Randall); grandchildren, Scott Connors (Lori), Staci Connors, Blair Connors (Jenifer), Kirk Connors (Anne), Darren Connors (Jenifer), Jared Connors (Jessica), Alicia Connors Cowin (Troy), Riley Connors (Layna), Kimberly Riley Morrison, Ronald G. Riley, Rena Staples McKinnon (Jon) and 28 beautiful great-grandchildren.

Ruth is preceded in death by Ronald L. Riley; sisters, Rosemary Viola Ball, Georgia Ann Wessela and Dorothy Alice DeVelbiss; brother, Melvin Robert DeVelbiss; grandchild, Corinn Connors; and a great-grandchild, Chayce Connors. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Seville Retirement Residence and the Orem Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their efforts on Ruth’s behalf. Funeral services were held on July 17 in Orem, Utha,  and interment was held at the Orem City Cemetery.