Ruthella Evans Cutler

Our dear mother, Ruthella Evans Cutler, died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 88 on Mar. 3, 2018.

Ruthie, as she was known by her friends and family; was born, the youngest child, to Wayne Smith Evans and Ruthella Marie (Pickren) Evans on Dec. 3, 1929 at their farm in Riverdale, Idaho. The family hired a manager to run the farm and moved to Preston when she was four.

Ruthie had many fond memories of swimming, camping, fishing, ice skating and tap dancing her way through her youth. No surprise to her friends and family, she was an outgoing and popular girl, who was a cheerleader for her high school. This is poignant, as she was the head cheerleader of her children and grandchildren, all of her life.

She attended the University of Idaho, where she was a Delta Gamma and truly enjoyed her time in school.

She met and married our dad, Reed Belnap Cutler in Preston, Idaho. They started their married life in Salt Lake City where Dad finished school at the University of Utah.

They lived the life of struggling students at Northwestern University in Chicago, where they were also raising their two oldest children. They settled in Mountain Home, in 1958 where they set up dad’s dental practice and grew their family to five children.

Dad unfortunately died young at the age of 49, and Mom took the full reins of leading the family. For many years, Mom at times held two jobs, owning and running a mobile home park, several rental homes and a quilt store, all the while nourishing, helping, and coaching her children to be the best people possible.

Ruthie was very proud of her children and grandchildren. She was a quick witted, intelligent and loving mother who laughed with her whole being. Ruthie was artistic and expressed this with water color and ceramics, becoming known for her beautiful Santas.

She loved playing bridge and was involved in several bridge groups concurrently until the very last few years. She developed many lifelong friendships and although family came first, her friends near and far were dear to her.

As an avid reader, she shared this passion and passed it along to her children who are forever grateful.

Ruthella will be greatly missed but will remain in our hearts.

She is preceded in death by her husband Dr. Reed Belnap Cutler, her parents Wayne Smith Evans and Ruthella Marie (Pickren) Evans and her sister, Bernice Evans.

She is survived by her sister, Darlene Hendricks of Mesquite, NV, her children Reed Bradford Cutler of Scottsdale, AZ, Vickrie Cutler of Hailey, ID, Wayne Evans Cutler (Jennifer Lynn Epis) of Mountain Home, Eric Joseph Cutler (Lisa Ann Cutler) of McMinnville, OR, Jenifer Cutler Allard (Michael John Allard) of Eagle, ID, and her grandchildren, Emily Marie Cutler and Grant Wayne Cutler of McMinnville, OR.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., on Saturday, Mar. 10, 2018 at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel located at 500 North 18th East, in Mountain Home. A reception will follow at a location to be determined in Mountain Home.

Donations can be made in honor of Ruthella to the Mountain Home Senior Center, 1000 North Third East, Mountain Home, ID 83647.