Obituary: Ruby Mendenhall Terry, devoted Mother and Grandmother quietly left us on Saturday, May 7, 2011. She was born January 26, 1914 in Niter, Idaho to Agnes Turner and Leo Smart Mendenhall. Her family was her world. She had a strong testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ. She leaves behind her daughters Betty and Frances. Her grandchildren Nancy, Larry, Ruby Rose, Brent, Brenda, Annette, Julie, Elvin, Bert and Diane; 43 great grandchildren, 27 great-great grandchildren and four great, great, great grandchildren; two sisters: Thelma Bauer and Vivian Eads. She was preceded in death by her two daughters Linda and Phyllis, and her son David. ....."Well done faithful daughter, welcome home"

Biography:
Ruby Cleo Mendenhall was born in Niter (Gentile Valley), Idaho January 26, 1914 to parents: Leo Smart Mendenhall and Agnes Hermany Turner Mendenhall. Niter is a farming community that nestles between two mountain ranges in southeast Idaho. Grace was the largest town in the valley. She was delivered by her Grandmother Mary Ann Turner a midwife. There were ten children in the family: Leo Lavern, Thelma, Ruby, Stanley, Warren, twins Venice and Vivian, Leo LaGrand and Rex. During the flu epidemic of 1918 everyone had the flu in the home except for Ruby and Phyllis. Through the blessings of the Lord all survived this difficult time in the family's life.

On special occasions Ruby's mother made delicious custard based vanilla ice cream. Her Father would take them to the cave adjacent to a volcanic cone where they would get ice for the hand cranked ice cream maker. Sometimes snow was used.

The large family weathered the severe depression of the 1930's. On their 40 acre farm were milk cows, chickens and pigs. Milk from the cows was separated and butter was hand churned. Butter and eggs were traded at the store for other groceries. The family had a large garden and her mother grew vegetables and fruit and bottled their winters supply. Dish washing chores were divided up with sister Thelma doing the breakfast dishes, Ruby doing the dinner dishes, and Phyllis the supper dishes. Carrying water from the spring to the house was a never ending task. As a little girl, Ruby and her sisters would cut people out of the Montgomery Ward catalog and play paper dolls for hours. Roaming over the farm in bare feet the children enjoyed many adventures. Real candles were placed on their Christmas trees. Ruby's Dad and Mother often took the children on excursions to the mountains to pick chokecherries, huckleberries and go fishing. The family had two horses and Ruby and her sisters often rode them to school at Niter. In winter they would go to church in a sleigh pulled by horses. As the girls became teens they attended the Saturday night dances. The Thomas cousins had an orchestra and played for most of the dances. Ruby's Mother was always awake to hear about her son's and daughter's fun at the dances.

Ruby married Andrew E Leroy (Anzy) Fletcher July of 1930. Daughters Betty and Phyllis were born from this marriage. They divorced and Ruby married Herbert William Milbrat of California, September 1945. Francis and Linda were born of this marriage. She later married Keith Terry in 1953 and her son David was born of this marriage. They were later divorced.

Ruby was a hard worker and was very charitable, always ready to help someone in need. For a number of years she ran a boarding house to support herself and her family and there was always food for visitors as well as for the boarders. Ruby suffered a stroke in her later years and after surgery and partial recovery she went to live with her daughter Betty who cared for her until a few months before her death. She passed away in a Sandy, Utah, nursing home May 7, 2011.