Ruth Anna Engelhart Young, 85, of Salmon, Idaho, passed away on Thursday, Oct 16, 2025, in Salmon, Idaho, with her devoted husband of 65 years, Roger, by her side.
Ruth was born at home in Trade Lake, Wisconsin, as the fourth of seven children to Joseph and Viola Inglehart. She attended a small country school with her siblings until eighth grade. When the schools were consolidated, she attended Frederic High School in Frederic, Wisconsin, where she graduated in 1958.
During her high school years Ruth stayed busy with the family business and farm. Every morning before school, she drove her father’s truck to neighboring farms to pick up farm animals to be delivered to larger farms. As an extracurricular activity, Ruth tried out for the cheerleading team and cheered for her school’s sports teams for four years. She met and started dating her lifelong partner, Roger Young, while still in high school. They married on Nov. 5, 1960, after Roger finished his tour of duty with the Army.
Ruth and Roger moved to Amery, Wisconsin, and built a very successful grocery business in partnership with Roger’s brother. In 1962 they were blessed with the birth of their son, Rory, and three years later their daughter, Recia. Ruth was an active member of Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron twice. During these years in Wisconsin, Ruth fondly recalled stories of her children growing up, taking vacations with Roger to exotic destinations like Tahiti and Australia, and hosting monthly birthday parties for her extended family. She was involved in community activities, played on an adult softball team, and decorated countless birthday and wedding cakes for friends and family.
In 1979, Ruth moved with Roger to Hayesville, North Carolina, on Lake Chatuge. Always ready to take a risk, Roger and Ruth converted a very large two-story schoolhouse into a full-service restaurant and Bed and Breakfast. Ruth was in her element here with meeting people from all over the country and making them feel at home.
For their last move, Ruth and Roger chose Salmon, Idaho, in 1996. They bought a home on Barracks Lane where Ruth’s flower and vegetable garden amazed her guests and neighbors. She hosted many Easter lunches, church picnics, and meetings in her lovely home. Ruth always had an open spot at her table for those in Salmon who had no other family to celebrate with, especially at the holidays.
Ruth and Roger joined the Salmon Methodist Church and, immediately, Ruth became an active member in the choir and the United Methodist Women. Because Ruth’s faith was strongly centered in service to others, she jumped right in to organize rummage sales and dinners as fundraisers for the church
Ruth was especially proud to have been a docent for the Sacajawea Center for 20 years. She helped with every Fall Frolic by teaching children how to make wax candles and pinecone birdfeeders. She loved sharing the history of this special place of Sacajawea, Lewis, and Clark with all her visitors. The more visitors during her shift, the happier she was.
Because Ruth had a very rare blood type (O NEG), she began a lifelong commitment of donating to the Red Cross. Just this year, she received a special commendation letter for having donated more than 1 gallon to the Red Cross.
Ruth was an active and dependable member of every organization she joined—P.E.O., Gateway Therapeutic Riding, Salmon United Methodist Church, Fair Superintendent of Needlework, Sacajawea Center, Rags and Wags Thrift Shop, and Salmon Marathon. She was passionate about these organizations and worked tirelessly to help ensure success on each and every endeavor. The work ethic that she developed as a young girl growing up on her farm in Wisconsin stayed with her all her life.
Her hobbies were gardening, flower arranging, making pinecone wreaths, and cooking. Ruth pursued each one with joy and enthusiasm and loved being able to share them with others. And, she was one heck of a card player! But, without a doubt, Ruth’s legacy to the community of Salmon, Idaho, was a mission to lift the spirits of everyone she met with a great big bear hug! Those hugs will truly be missed by her friends.
Ruth was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Jim Engelhart; and her sisters, Betty and Joan. She leaves behind her devoted husband, Roger Young; her brother, Robert Engelhart; her sisters, Jean (Joe) Pellegrino and Fern Brunclik; her son, Rory (Laurie) Young; her daughter, Recia (Phil) Barlow; and her two grandsons, Brandon (Brillianna) Barlow and Devin Barlow.
Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 24, at the United Methodist Church.
