WATERHOUSE, Ruth

Ruth Lorraine Waterhouse October 1, 1937 – January 4, 2026 With hearts full of enduring love and wonderful memories we announce the peaceful passing of Ruth Lorraine Waterhouse on January 4, 2026, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and a brief final illness.
Ruth is lovingly remembered by her sons, grandchildren, extended family and a lifetime of friends. She is survived by three of her sons, John (Kathleen), Gordon (Lorna) and David (Aleighzja) and is predeceased by her son Ken. Ruth is beloved and remembered by 12 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.
Ruth is predeceased by her parents, John Lawrence and Mary Emerald Phillips, her son Kenneth Earl Waterhouse (Gloria) and by her siblings, Lawrence Earl Phillips (Gerry), Kenneth Lee Phillips (Yvonne) and survived by her sister Ruby.
Ruth Lorraine Phillips was born in the Galt Hospital in Lethbridge Alberta on October 1, 1937. A twin and the fourth child of John and Mary Phillips. Her early life was lived in the Lethbridge Northern, Picture Butte, Stirling and Lethbridge. She often talked about loving her visits to Grandpa and Grandma Anderson’s home and playing around the chicken coop. Her family moved to Michigan during the second world war where her parents worked on opposite shifts in a gear factory. Upon her return to Lethbridge she lived in the family home on 9th avenue and continued her education graduating from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.
She married and began a family in Lethbridge with her first three sons being born in four years. She was a wonderful mother and homemaker and also worked outside the home. Her fourth son was born in 1966 and the family moved to Edmonton in 1968. She became a single Mom in 1970 and focused on providing for her family financially, raising her sons in the church and supporting them in their various sports and other interests. She also went back to school and obtained a Bachelor of Education Degree at the University of Alberta and began a teaching career in Edmonton.
With her sons making their way with their families in various locations in Alberta, Texas and Nevada, Ruth moved back to Lethbridge to be with her Mother in her later years and decided to stay for the last 26 years. She built a home in the Mountain Heights neighbourhood in West Lethbridge that became the connecting point for her family and the place where her grandchildren got to know her, sometimes live with her, share experiences with her and build bonds of love that are forever.
She always served faithfully in her various callings in the church and built lifelong friendships wherever she served, lived and worked. She was ever grateful to see her sons serve missions, marry and start families of their own, and then cherish the grandchildren and great grandchildren that came along. She loved all of them with all her heart.
As a family we love, honour and celebrate her life and the eternal blessing she is to each of us and also express gratitude to those who loved and blessed her with their friendship as she travelled this mortal life’s path.
Beloved Mother, Grandmother and Friend, she brought and gave love, laughter, joy and life to her eternal family who she dedicated her life’s purpose to with all her heart and soul – and will continue to do so – Forever!
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, January 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 560 Highlands Blvd West, Lethbridge, Alberta , T1J 4X1. There will be a viewing at 10 AM, funeral service at 11:00 AM, a luncheon to follow at 12:00 PM and the internment at the Mountainview Cemetery at 1:30 PM.
To send condolences, please visit www.generationsfh.ca