Obituary of Ruth M. Buck

RUTH M. BUCK Ruth M. Buck passed away peacefully on Monday, July 6, 2009 with her daughter at her side. Predeceased by her parents, John and Elizabeth Matheson; her husband, Geoffrey J. Buck; her brother and sisters, Gladys Crim, Reima Goodman, Letitia Lester, Grace Anderson, Selkirk (Ted) Matheson, Edith Matheson, Kathleen Fallis and John Matheson. Ruth is survived by her loving daughter, Judith Wintonyk; her son-in-law, Boris Wintonyk; two grandsons, Geoffrey and Michael; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews. Ruth was born in 1905 at Onion Lake in the new province of Saskatchewan, the seventh of nine children. For five years, Ruth taught school at Ashern, in the Inter-Lake District of Manitoba, in south-western Saskatchewan and in Winnipeg, all the while also taking university courses; she graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1928. In 1933, she married Geoffrey Buck, and in 1946, they and their daughter, Judith, moved to Regina. In 1953, Ruth was asked by the Civic Voters Association to run for the then Regina Collegiate Board, later the Board of Education. With some trepidation, she agreed to run only to find that the work on the Board was exhilarating. In total, she served for fourteen years, finally retiring in 1967. The 1970s proved to be a particularly fruitful period for Ruth. History and writing had always been great interests, and for many years, she had been working on papers that were to result in the publication of two books: Voices of the Plains Cree (1973), the stories of Chief Thunderchild, collected by the Reverend Edward Ahenakew and edited by Ruth, and The Doctor Rode Sidesaddle (1974), her mothers story as one of the first women doctors in Canada. In 1975, the Ruth M. Buck School was named for her to honour her work on the Board of Education. From then until she was over ninety, she regularly visited the school, meeting with the staff and all of the children. Her warmth, ability and vitality made her life stimulating and enriched the lives of all those whom she met. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in St. Pauls Cathedral, 1861 McIntyre Street, Regina with Dean James D. Merrett officiating. Interment in St. Pauls Columbarium. Flowers gratefully declined. Friends so wishing may make donations, in memoriam, to a charity of choice. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com