Ruth Beatrice Struchen

Ruth Beatrice Bergin Struchen, 89, passed from this earthly life on Friday, October 25, 2013 in Kimberly, Idaho. She was born to Alphonsus and Ruth Bergin on July 30, 1924 in Glendale, Idaho near Bellevue. She and her brother, Robert came as a surprise twin package. They were born at home with the help of a doctor and her aunt, who was a nurse. She weighed 3 pounds and her brother 2.5 pounds, but somehow they managed to survive and thrive. She spent her childhood in the Wood River Valley. She was the only girl in this family with five brothers, so she grew up doing all her brothers did and loved to play sports, especially basketball. Ruth graduated from Albion State Normal Teachers' College in Albion, Idaho at the age of 18 and began her teaching career in Grand View, Idaho, She taught the early elementary grades there and in Ketchum and Shoshone. It was in Shoshone that she met and married Frederick Struchen in January of 1950. They were married 55 years before his death in 2006. Fred and Ruth operated a dairy farm and raised their five children north of Shoshone. Ruth took a break from teaching to raise her family, but returned to it and taught 1st grade in Shoshone for several years before opening her own private kindergarten/preschool out of the Baptist church there. They later sold the farm and moved to Twin Falls where Ruth opened 3Rs Kindergarten and Preschool and she taught there until the age of 72. She had a tremendous work ethic. She kept her home and yard meticulous. Even on the farm, there was hardly a weed to be found in her yard, flower beds, or in her huge garden. She loved to cook, bake, and can. New son-in-laws to the family were especially impressed with her huge and varied meals, and the grandchildren insisted she make her homemade noodles for every family occasion. She will be greatly missed by her surviving family which includes her five children: Louise (Robert) Scharnhorst of Kimberly, Paul Struchen of Twin Falls, Ken (Pat) Struchen of Twin Falls, Ann (John) Croy of Meridian, and John Struchen of Twin Falls. She also leaves 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and her brothers, Francis (Norma) Bergin of Twin Falls, Austin (Marcie) of Sonoma, California , sister-in-law, Teresa Bergin of Bellevue, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brothers, Joe, Bill, and twin, Bob. A celebration of Ruth's life will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home 2551 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho. Those wishing to share memories and condolences may do so on Ruth's memorial webpage at www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com.