Ruth Arbutis Yoder Howell was born on April 13, 1922, to Ira J & Marie (Hoar) Yoder on her parents’ farm 12 miles North of Brockton, MT. She was the 3rd of six children in the Yoder family. She passed peacefully to her home in Heaven on July 7, 2026 at 104.

Ruth attended grade school at the Anderson Country School and then went to Brockton public school for 8th and 9th grade. The family then moved to Poplar where she graduated high school in 1940. That fall she went to North Central Business College in Minneapolis, MN, graduating in the spring of 1942. After college Ruth moved to Wolf Point, MT and took a job in the County Assessor's office. A permanent job soon opened up with MDU where she worked for 5 years.

In Sept of 1947 Ruth married Vern M. Howell of Poplar, MT and they lived in Poplar for the next 13 years. During this time a son, James V Howell was born to them. They were very active in the Assembly of God Church where Ruth taught Sunday School and had many fond memories of the young people in her class as well as their other friends there. The neighbors were great and Jim never forgot all the fun the children had as they gathered in his big sand box!

In 1960 they moved to Denver, CO where Ruth worked in secretarial work, retail sales, and finally as office manager at the Operation Blessing food and clothing bank that Vern started in Wheat Ridge, CO. She attended Calvary Temple church for over 40 years where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School. Ruth and Vern were also very active in Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship.

In Dec of 2009 Ruth and Vern moved to Billings, MT to be close to her youngest brother, Delmer.

Ruth was preceded in death by her son Jim in July of 1973 and by her husband Vern in July of 2019. Also preceding her were her parents, her brothers Donald (Cora) & Delmer, sisters Hazel (John) Shank and Lucille (Albert) Janzen, her niece Susan Hansen and a great niece, Savannah Helget, also her brother-in-law Gene McCormick. She is survived by one sister, Darlene McCormick, and a sister-in-law, Ruth W. Yoder, as well as many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.

Ruth loved her family and friends and her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her last and only desire is to see you all in Heaven!