Ruth Eleanor Grant

Ruth Eleanor Grant

Funeral services for Ruth Eleanor Grant, 74, were held Saturday, October 26, 1998 at 2:00 p.m. at Converse Funeral Chapel in Douglas, with Reverend Rodney Saunders of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Eulogists will be Neal Johnson and Tom Burley.

Her ashes were scattered at the ranch on Harney Creek in a private family ceremony. Mrs. Grant died Wednesday, October 21, 1998 at her home on Harney Creek, north of Lost Springs, after a short illness.

Ruth was born June 5, 1924, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, the daughter of William and Mabel (Tallman) Lindmier. Most of her life she resided on the same ranch tht her parents homesteaded in 1916. In May 1945, in Douglas, she married Thomas H. Mitchell, whose parents had also homesteaded nearby in 1917.

Combining the two homesteads and through hard work and many trying times, they eventually purchased various adjoining homesteads to form a sizeable and impressive ranch, raising top quality Hereford cattle.

Not having children of their own, they adopted a girl, Ruth Anne, born in 1954, and a boy, John Arthur, born in 1955.

Thomas Mitchell died of cancer February 26, 1979. Ruth married Elmer L. Grant September 10, 1979 in Douglas and Elmer passed away February 21, 1986.

Ruth was a member of the Wyoming Livestock Association, the Mountain Valley Rebekah Lodge No. 15; the Wyoming Pioneer Association; supported the Converse County 4-H Clubs; just to name a few of her many associations.

Ruth co-authored the book entitled "Pages From Converse County's Past", and for many years was the author of the column "Izzatso", that appeared in the Douglas Budget.

Ruth continued to operate the ranch until her death. She was one of the last of the breed of old-time ranchers who was always there to help anyone in need, and who, when she "gave her word", stood by it no matter what the sacrifice.

She was an extraordinary person, and a very strong woman, who will be sorely missed by family members, and countless people who have been privileged to know her.

She is survived by her daughter, Ruth Ann Smathers of the ranch; her son, John Arthur Mitchell of Bluebell, UT; three grandchildren, Gynette King, Toby Bartschi, and John Dalton Mitchell; one great granddaughter, Melissa Ann King; two brothers and their wives, William C. and Irene Lindmier, Jr. of Harris Park, WY and David and Virginia Lindmier of Douglas; sister-in-law Phyllis Mitchell Davis of Colorado Springs, CO; two nieces and eleven nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands and her sister, Virginia Swan. Honorary pallbearers will be Raymond Smith, John Pickinpaugh, Bruce Murray, Joe Netz, Gary Dickau, Bob Manning, John Grant, Lester Grant, Prosper Etchemendy, George Etchemendy, Robert Cross, Tom Burley, Bob Pfister, Neal Johnson, Bob Davis, Cecil Doe, Leroy Kingery, Butch Bowr, Jeff Clayton, Gary Benson, Bill Count, Charles Count, Gary Count, James Count, Jerry Boone, and Alvie Manning.

Memorials to the Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Foundation, 250 25th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203; the Alzheimer's Association, Box 656, 532 Beaver Creek Rd. Newcastle, WY 82701; or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Converse Funeral Chapel of Douglas was in charge of the arrangements.

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