Ruth Marie Tucek

Ruth Marie (Thomas) Tucek, 96, of Danvers passed away February 28, 2024 at Valle Vista in Lewistown, surrounded by her loving family. In Ruth’s own words “I was born on May 23, 1927, in my Grandpa Thomas’s home, 8 miles south of Moore, in the foothills of little Snowy Mountains, to Charles and Minnie (Ekstein) Thomas. Dad said it was a rainy day and he had to go to Moore to get Dr. Soltero to come deliver me. I joined my older sister, Florence Anna who was four. My Sister Helen Thresa joined the family 3 years after me. I attended Trout Creek School for elementary school and then attended Moore High School (before they had electricity or telephones), graduating in 1945.  That summer I went to Billings and took a ten-week college course and started out that fall teaching at the Ackerly School, near Danvers, Montana.”

While at a wedding dance, Ruth met her future husband, Jim Tucek who had recently returned from serving overseas in WWII. That next summer, she went to college in Billings and returned to teach. On January 25, 1947, James and Ruth were married at St Leo’s Catholic Church in Lewistown. In July of that year, she joined the St. Wenceslaus Church in Danvers. She belonged to the Alter Society, Danvers Woman’s Extension Club, and the Hi-Flyer’s “27” Club and spent many enjoyable hours corresponding with pen pals.

After her family was all in school, she taught at the Deerfield Colony School for two years. Many family meals were made from homegrown veggies from the large family garden. Ruth enjoyed canning and freezing food, reading and crafts. All of her children and grandchildren have a handmade blanket or afghan she made for them. They lived in Danvers for 47 years, until Jim passed away in August of 1993. After living on her own on the farm, Ruth decided to move to the Esplanade in Lewistown and made many new friends playing cards and going to the COA for lunch.

Ruth is survived by her sons: Ronald Tucek of Danvers, Thomas (Cheryl) Tucek of Danvers, Steven (Donna) Tucek of Grass Range, Paul (Debbie) Tucek of Lewistown, and one daughter; Cecilia (Dan) Van Voast of Geraldine, 7 grandchildren: Charlie (Janel) Tucek, Carmen (Justin)Wichman, Rhonda (Jeremy) Long, Neal (Laura) Tucek, Karisa (Mitch) Perryman, Ashley (Patrick) Morris, Brent (Sarah) Van Voast, and 20 great-grandchildren.

 She was preceded in death by her husband Jim Tucek, parents, Charles and Minnie Thomas, her sisters, Florence Termaat and Helen Pratt, her in-laws, Bohumil and Mary Tucek and her granddaughter, Genelle Tucek.

Visitation will be Sunday, March 3, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm with a Vigil service starting at 7:00 pm at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, March 4, 2024 at 11:00 am also at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. Father Samuel Spiering will be officiating.  Ruth will be laid to rest next to Jim at the Danvers Cemetery in the spring. 

Memorial contributions can be made in Ruth's name to the CMMC Cancer Center 408 Wendell Ave. Lewistown, MT 59457 or to Gift of Life Housing P.O. Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59406 or to a charity of your choice.