Ruth Anne Lee

Ruth Anne Lee (Ihlanfeldt) was born August 23, 1929 in Merna, NE, the first daughter and third of four children. She moved with her family to Milwaukee, WI and finally to the Ballard area of Seattle when she was in junior high. After graduation from Ballard High School, she entered the University of Washington as a Sigma Kappa in the fall of 1948. She worked various jobs during school, mostly in clerical positions for Kress and Woolworths, among others. Her main interests then were journalism, with a focus on foreign correspondence, writing, and participating in singing chorales. While in college she met and married fellow Husky Glenn Mallory of Seattle in May of 1950. They made their home in the Lake City area and had 6 children during that time. With a growing family and needing more room, the family moved a little farther north to a mini-farm. Ruth spent a lot of time in the garden each year; freezing and canning all the produce and fruit from the orchard. She was an excellent cook and baker and her family especially enjoyed the homemade bread, rolls and pies she made. Sports were always one of Ruths favorite past times and she was always the number one fan of her kids teams and was often the Team Mom. She never wanted to miss a game or match. She managed to fit all the activities of a busy family life in with working as a bookkeeper for a handful of small companies over the years in the Lynnwood and Bothell areas. Life changes led her to move south again, settling in the Shoreline area where 4 of her children graduated from Shoreline High School. Again, Ruth stayed busy going to sor games and gymnastic meets and coached softball for her daughters teams. While there, she met and married Clay (Bud) Lee. He shared her enthusiasm for sports and they enjoyed watching football, basketball, golf, sor, and the World Series together. Ruth and Bud eventually made one more move to Richmond Beach. They built a cabin on the Skagit River where the whole family played and made lifelong memories. After retiring, they eventually became Snowbirds, heading for Palm Springs and Mesa each winter. Together they traveled on cruises to the Caribbean and Mexico, but often jaunted out on day trips to try new restaurants, which was one of Ruths favorite things to do. She enjoyed almost 28 wonde and happy years with Bud until he passed away in 2001. Ruth stayed busy and continued to travel south for a few years and fit in trips to Hawaii and Europe as well as visits with brother Bill and family in Houston and Louisiana. She was very close to her sister, Barbara LaClair, who was her contract bridge partner, and they played at least 3 times a week at Edmonds and Shoreline Senior Centers. She loved anything deGrazia, enjoyed movies (especially John Wayne), popcorn, eating out, crosswords, reading, begonias, sunshine, watching grandchildrens sports, sports in general, and especially spending time with her large family. Ruth had a special place in her heart for babies and children and all 8 great grandchildren lovingly called her GG. Ruth left this life peacefully, surrounded by her family, and went to be with Jesus, December 25, 2011, in Lake Forest Park, Washington. Until we see her again, she leaves behind 6 children, 3 stepchildren, 1 brother and 1 sister-in-law and their families; along with numerous nieces, nephews and their families, and many wonde lifelong friends. The family wishes to extend special thanks to David and Joann Enge and the excnal staff at Nordic Woods who loved and cared for Ruth just like family.