On March 19, 2025, Ruth Leu passed away peacefully in St. Peter’s hospital.
Ruth was born in Helena, Mt. on April 21, 1934, the second daughter to Ned and Bernice DeBree.
Ruth began her early few years of life on her family ranch in Birdseye. Her family moved to East Helena upon the death of her father, where she would spend the next forty years.
Ruth married Edward Leu on April 12, 1953 when he returned from serving in the Korean war. The couple immediately started their family of four children.
Ruth was a true homemaker. She loved cooking and baking for her family and guests, usually the fruits and vegetables from her large garden she kept in perfect order. She was also an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for her daughters. While raising her family, Ruth also wrapped tons and tons of meat at her husband’s meat stores, Tower Meats and Helena Avenue Meats.
Ruth was especially devoted to her sisters, Joann, Joyce, and Carol and spent lots of time with them visiting, traveling, and camping together.
In 1980 Ruth and Ed moved to Clancy, where Ruth spent several years baking pies and cooking for the Legal Tender Cafe. Mom proudly claimed she baked 10,000 pies in her lifetime.
She spent many hours enjoying fixing Sunday dinners for her nearby children and grandchildren. She was a wonderful grandma to her grandkids, whether they lived nearby or out of town. She also loved to play tunes on the piano and organ. Mom never read music, but she could play songs she knew, especially church hymns.
Upon retirement Ruth and Ed would spend a couple of months each winter traveling to Arizona with their RV and having fun with friends. After the death of her husband Ed, Ruth moved to Son Heaven where the staff and residents treated her with loving care. Ruth was a long time member of Clancy United Methodist Church.
Ruth was pre-deceased by her parents Ned and Bernice Debree and sister Joyce Leander.
Survivors of Ruth include her sisters Joann Leu and Carol Ellison, son Mitchell Leu,(Kitty), daughters Valerie Lane, (Chuck), Debbie Marks,(Gary), Shelly Anderson,(Joe), 11 grandchildren: Kail Marks, Kyrie Russ, Kim Hartweg, Kearstyn Tam, Brandon Lane, Brianna Lane, Krista Weis, Katie VanNatta, Kamri McBride, Kory Farrell, Kelsie Leu and 16 great grandchildren.
There will be a memorial gathering to celebrate Ruth’s life later this year.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Roy Moreno says
I met Ruth when I move to Son Heaven she would watch staff making meals fur us she would wheres my I would tell her by putting my hands together saying patients so she would wait sometimes looking at me and smiling and say patients she would come down for breakfast we all ways wave to each other her favorite saying after dinner do I get a treat you fly high it was a pleasure to have known you RIP
Rod Applegate says
Mitch and the Leu family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. While losing a family matriarch is always difficult, there are so many beautiful memories of her intertwined within the Clancy community. May those memories remain in your hearts.
Tom Reilly says
Leu Family,
‘Sorry to know of Ruth’s passing. I’ll always remember her as the most polite and kind person ever. Thinking of you during this time.
Tom