Ruth Louise Conner

DARBY - Ruth Louise Smyth Conner died peacefully of natural causes at her beloved home south of Darby, on June 25, 2010.

Louise was a proud resident of the Bitterroot Valley for 82 of her 86 years. She was born October 20, 1923, in Seattle, WA, during the brief time that her native Bitterroot born parents Emmett W. and Ruth (Sutherland) Smyth were in Seattle. She attended 12 years of school in Corvallis, graduating valedictorian of her high school class in 1941. After completing one year and one semester of college in Dillon, MT, she quit school to marry Delbert Aaron Conner of Darby on November 28, 1942. Del had enlisted in the Army Air Corps and she followed him to Texas to be near him while he was going to flight and officer training school. As no military housing was provided for spouses at that time she boarded with local families who opened their homes to the wives and she did office and secretarial work while there.

Son Michael Aaron Conner of Darby was born in Hamilton, MT one week after 2nd Lieutenant Conner was shipped to the South Pacific. Daughter Cathy Ruth Eastwood was born after World War II.

Louise was wife and helpmate; mother; bookkeeper and secretary to whatever venture she and Del undertook during their marriage. At first they tried their hand at various ranching endeavors, but in 1955 they started Del Conner Lumber, 3 miles south of Darby, on family property sold to them by Del's parents. Louise played an active role in the burgeoning business.

In August 1966, the love of her life died, thrusting her into the role of sawmill and property owner. She took on the challenge of running a sawmill in a man's world at a time when women executives were few and the debts of the mill were huge. With the help and loyalty of her son Michael and the employees of the sawmill, she was able to successfully operate the mill, providing employment and revenue to the community until she sold the mill to Stoltz Land and Lumber in November, 1978. She was named Small Business Woman of the Year in 1977 and in 2006 she was honored and recognized for her contributions to the timber industry by the Montana Wood Products Association with the Lifetime Commitment Award. She was part of the Bitterroot Valley Development Corporation and Bitterroot Bark.

Louise and Del were active all of their married life in the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Conner. Later in Louise's life she became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton. She was a member of the Conner Friendly Gardeners Club and was a past member of the Chamber of Commerce, Soroptimist Club, and Hamilton Golf Club. She funded the Del Conner Scholarship at Darby High School from 1967 to 2009.

Louise loved to learn what was happening in her community and country and was an avid reader of the local newspapers, as well as faithfully watching the evening news. She also spent many hours in the evening reading novels and biographies. Cooking for and entertaining family and friends at her home on the Bitterroot River was a highlight of her life. She loved the beauty of her surroundings and her beloved Trapper's Peak and wanted to share them with everyone. Her close and extended family were extremely important to her, Never one to sit home and mope during trying times, she continued business ventures, took up eating out, shopping for clothes, snowmobiling, golf, cross-country skiing, horse back riding, travel, Bible study and cattle ranching depending on her own or her husbands' interests. She remarried three times following Del's death to Martin Townsend, Bob Stephens, and John Monroe.

During her last years of life, she met the numerous physical challenges of osteoporosis and congestive heart failure with the same indomitable and adaptable spirit as she faced the other difficulties and pleasures of her life. Even though her activities became very limited and help in her home was necessary the last four years, her cheerful smile, curiosity about the future, zest for life, and interest in her family, community and country never waned. She will be greatly missed by those she loved and left behind.

Louise is survived by her son Michael Aaron and wife Esther (House) Conner of Darby; daughter Cathy and husband Robert Eastwood of Liberty Lake, WA; sister Dorothy McLarren of Spokane, WA; sister-in-law Virginia Smyth of Corvallis; grandchildren Christopher Charles Hawkins (Corrie Meddaugh) of Seattle, WA, Scott Michael Conner (Brigitte Rey)of Hamilton, Kylie Louise Brost (David) of Billings, MT, and Delbert Aaron Conner of Hamilton; step-grandchildren Karen Vanderlaan of Aliso Viejo, CA and Kevin Eastwood of Coos Bay OR; great-grandchildren Landen and Ledge Conner, Conner and Caimbrie Brost, and Levi Conner; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Delbert Conner, Martin Townsend and John Monroe; and brother, Robert Smyth.

The family suggests that memorials be made to the Marcus Daly Hospice Endowment Fund, 1200 Westwood Dr., Hamilton, MT 59840; First Presbyterian Church, or Conner Wesleyan Church.