Obituary of Ruth Montgomery

Ruth Maxine (Chase Trenholm) Montgomery, age 88, died on Leap Day, Feb. 29, 2012 at Riverbend Hospital in Eugene, Oregon, of influenza and congestive heart failure. She was born on Sept. 16, 1923 at Camp Creek north of Springfield, Oregon, to Vincent Chase and Bertha Laretta (Thompson) Chase. She lived in Oregon for her entire life, except for a time during World War II living in Mississippi.Ruth worked for 20 years as a school bus driver before she retired and learned to play the stand-up bass at age 60. Since then, she became a devoted musician of old-time fiddle music, playing several “gigs” a week until this past year, when a heart condition limited her stamina. She was in demand at the festival in Weiser, Idaho, as a back-up musician for the fiddle contestants. Her sunny disposition was reflected in the song she included in every playlist: “Keep on the Sunny Side”.She leaves behind her husband of 48 years, Cal Montgomery, three Sons, Ruddy (wife Sandy) Trenholm of Anderson, CA; Terry (partner Ann) Trenholm of Seal Rock, OR; Mark (wife Debi) Montgomery; four daughters, Carol Trenholm Larson (husband Larry Larson) of Deer Park, WA; Char (husband David Young) Young of Creswell, OR; Sandy (husband Irving) Rowell of Noti, OR; and Della (husband Larry) Swift of Noti, OR; Grandchildren Machelle Singh Hauge of Las Vegas, NV; Dawn Hanthorn of Corvallis, OR; Nancy Haddenham of Douglas, WY; Jesse Goddard-Trenholm of Eugene, OR; Heidi Goddard Trenholm of New York City; Jody Young of Creswell, OR; Jill Young of Eagle Point; Evan Atherton of French Camp, CA ; Mike Montgomery of Harrisburg, OR; Karli Montgomery Malpass of Harrisburg, OR; Jason Swift of Noti, OR; Robin Swift Huselton of Junction City, OR; Kelley Swift Gilliland of Hudson, CO; Kate Swift Weyhrich of Randolph, NE; 15 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday March 3, 2012 at Harrisburg Christian Church. Private family burial will follow at Alford Cemetery, Harrisburg. Murphy Musgrove Funeral Home of Junction City is handling the arrangements.