Margaret Ruth ALLEN

11/21/1919 - 11/02/2013

ALLEN, Margaret Ruth 11/21/19 - 11/02/13 Margaret was born to Joseph and Kitty (Dragoo) Warner on November 21, 1919 in Hettinger, ND. Her parents lived near Lodgepole, SD. Because of her father's occupation, she always called herself "the coal miner's daughter." She attended high school at the South Dakota School of Agriculture in Brookings where she met Alvin Arthur Allen. They were married in 1941 in her grandparent's sod house near Lodgepole and then farmed near Wessington, SD until 1956 when they moved to Genesee, ID and later to Bovill, ID. The Allen's had six children, one girl and five boys. In 1964, the family moved to Spokane. Margaret lived in the same house for almost 50 years. She was a member of Eiram Court #62 of the Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America where she was in the Jester Unit. She enjoyed her involvement with the Shrine and annual visits to the Shrine Hospital at Christmas. She was a member of the Wildlife Association and the Walleye Club and attended Hemophilia Camp for several years with her son and grandson. In 1965, Margaret went to Spokane Community College and obtained her LPN. She worked at Sacred Heart Hospital for three years and then for Dr. Alden Parker for 17 years. After their retirement, Alvin and Margaret owned and operated Pilot Car Services. Margaret loved her family and was always there for anyone who needed her. She was preceded in death by her husband, two sons and two grandchildren, and survived by her sons, George Allen of Spokane, WA, Tom Allen of Philadelphia, PA, and Ken Allen of Watervliet, NY, one daughter, Betty Ownbey of Ocean Park, WA, ten grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandsons, and long time friend, Bev Hind. RIPLINGER FUNERAL HOME, 4305 N. Division, Spokane, WA is in charge of the graveside service at Spokane Memorial Gardens at 1:00PM on Friday, November 8, 2013 with a memorial following at the Masonic Temple, 2715 S. Grand Blvd. at 3PM. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations to Hospice of Spokane, the Hemophilia Foundation, or the Spokane Shrine Hospital. Online guestbook at www.riplingers.com