Ruth E. Pidgeon 1929 ~ 2016Ruth was born on January 8, 1929 in Arden, Little River County, Arkansas, the youngest daughter of Steve Archibald and Lillie Mae Allen Crews. At age 87, she passed away late Sunday evening, September 11, 2016.Her father died February 5, 1938, leaving her mother Lillie, her sister Eloise, and her in a dire situation. Most of her mother's family had settled in the State of Idaho, looking for greener pastures. They encouraged the family to join them. Her grandparents, Harvey Elmer and Lucy Della Gunier Allen, returned to Arkansas to bring them out west. They had been told that they would be able to pick money off of trees or the ground. Little did they know it would be "prunes or potatoes." They settled in Caldwell, where Lillie used her cooking talents to get work in Graves Lunch Cafe and both girls found various jobs between school to help the family earn money. While working at the cafe, Lillie met Earl Kirkhart and the two were married on October 3, 1941.One of the many jobs Ruth had was working for the Telephone Company. This was back in the day when you had a lighted switchboard and answered the lights with, "Number, please!" She continued this position until the company converted to direct dial. She met the love of her life, Dale L. Pidgeon, and they were married in Elko, Nevada on September 2, 1950. They continued to live in Caldwell area, where Dale worked for Home Dairies. A job transfer caused them to move to Nampa, where their son Steve was born in the old Mercy Hospital in 1953. Ruth was able to find jobs that enabled her to stay home and spend time with her children, Juvanne and Steve. It was during this time that she fell in love with direct selling. She worked for Beauty Counselor and Stanley Home Products.In 1960, Ruth was invited to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah to meet the President of Home Interiors and Gifts. Mary C. Crowley challenged her to join the company and help build the State of Idaho. She was told, "It was easier to put a hundred people to work than to do the work of a hundred people." Needless to say, great things began to happen for her and her family. Mary C. Crowley was a wonderful mentor and encouraged her in every step of her journey. Mary's motto was, "Life is no brief candle to me... It is a burning torch to be passed on."During the children's early years, Ruth and Dale helped with many community civic projects. They were involved in the PTA, the Presbyterian Church and the Nampa Lions Clubs where many nights were spent at the Snake River Stampede working at the concessions stand during the rodeo. In 1967, the Nampa Lions Club hosted the 26th Annual Convention in Sun Valley for multiple District No. 39, serving Idaho and Oregon. Ruth served as Ladies' Chairman. Ruth's boss, Mary C. Crowley, was the keynote speaker.The couple moved to Boise in 1971 after Home Dairies merged with Dairyman's Creamery and Triangle Young Dairies. Ruth retired from Home Interiors and Gifts Inc. after spending over 25 years with the company. She and Dale enjoyed time traveling to their McCall home, trips with her sister Eloise to Jackpot and other points of interest, cooking for family, crocheting special things for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and listening and broom dancing to Lawrence Welk and his orchestra.During her retirement, she became caretaker to her step-father, Earl Kirkhart; mother, Lillie; sister-in-law, Dorothy Pidgeon; and later, her husband, Dale, who died August 12, 1999.Ruth was an active member of Eagles Lodge No. 115 in Boise, serving in the Ladies Auxiliary as both Mother (2010-2011) and Grandmother (2012-2013). She helped with many charitable projects, including area children.Ruth was preceded in death by her father; mother and step-father; husband, Dale; sister and brother-in-law, Lauren and Eloise Graves; and a granddaughter, Shawna Lillian Clezie.She is survived by daughter, Juvanne (Terry) Martin of Nampa; son, Steve (Kathy) Pidgeon of Eagle; grandson, Steve Clezie and granddaughters, Cher (Craig) Nelson and Kim Clezie, all of Twin Falls; grandson, Dr. John Pidegon of North Platte, Nebraska and granddaughter, Marisa (Michael) Berndt of Boise; five great-grandchildren: Isabel Clezie, Kalan and Emrik Fife, Liam Nelson, all of Twin Falls, and Amaya Berndt of Boise; nieces, Diane (Steve) Proctor and Debbie (Dwight) Howell of Boise and Donna (Des) Kahrs of Wheeler, Oregon; and nephew, Lauren David (Kathleen) Graves of Boise.The family would like to acknowledge Dr. Mark Grajcar, Dr. Raymond Otto and the Wound Clinic of Meridian, Horizon Health Care and Hospice, caretakers Charlene Brown and Helen Jones, and the many friends of the Boise Eagles Lodge for their compassion and care during Ruth's last moments.In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorial donations be made to the Boise Eagles Lodge No. 115, 7025 Overland Road, Boise, Idaho, 83709.An open house memorial service will be held at the Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Garden City, Idaho, on Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.