Kenton Piper-Ruth

Kenton Piper-Ruth, son of Roger and Pam Piper-Ruth, passed away on March 22, 2026. He died of suicide after a long struggle with mental health and depression.

Kenton was born in Boise, Idaho, on March 17, 1993. He was the youngest of three and was dearly loved by his brother, Conrad, and his sister, Lauresta. As a child, Kenton attended Lowell Elementary School, where he met some of his lifelong friends, including Chris Clayton and Kenton Freemuth. During junior high and high school, Kenton spent his free time rock climbing, mountain biking, playing soccer, surfing, backpacking, gaming, and playing music with friends and family.

After graduating from Boise High School, Kenton attended the University of Idaho for one semester, initially pursuing computer science. However, after what he jokingly described as a “premature mid-life crisis,” he decided that was not his path and moved back to Boise. He entered the workforce in the food service industry, working as a line chef, and was later hired as a paraprofessional at Riverglen Junior High. It was during this time that Kenton’s passion for creative writing took hold. He spent countless hours writing books, short stories, and poems, using them to explore the inner reaches of his mind.

This passion led Kenton back to college, this time at the College of Western Idaho, where he earned an Associate’s degree in English with a 4.0 GPA. During his first year, he won first prize in the First-Year Writing category of the CWI President's Writing Awards. In his final year, he again won first prize, this time in the Fiction category. His teachers and classmates remember him as someone with an easy friendly way about him, bringing good humor and a willingness to help others in class.

Kenton supported himself through college by continuing to work as a paraprofessional at both Riverglen Junior High and Capital High School. He spent his days working one-on-one with many special needs students. His kind, calm demeanor was an asset, allowing him to connect with his students and gently guide them in the right direction. This role also allowed Kenton to incorporate another of his passions—music. Throughout the school day, it was common to find him playing his guitar for his students.

Kenton’s love of music likely stemmed from his father’s influence. As a teenager, he learned to play the guitar and bass and performed in a band with his friends Kenton and Chris. He also spent countless hours creating beats and music on his computer.

Kenton had a unique mind. He was soft-spoken, but when he shared his thoughts, they were genuine, creative, and thought-provoking. Sitting with Kenton under the stars or around a campfire, he would talk about the ideas and questions that captured his curiosity. We were often struck by how unique his way of thinking was.

Kenton loved to cook. He would experiment and tinker with dishes until he was satisfied, then share them, ask for honest feedback, and return to perfecting them. A family favorite was his fresh spring rolls with a Vietnamese dipping sauce that rivaled any restaurant. This love of cooking was also a central theme in his book, The Dragon Tax, a young adult novel about Steve, a down-on-his-luck 30-year-old navigating a world ruled by greedy dragons. The Dragon Tax was the book Kenton poured his passion into, spending years refining and editing it, in the hope that one day he would be able to publish it. The book is filled with Kenton’s personality, passions, humor, and wit.

Kenton loved his family. As the Piper-Ruth clan grew to include his brother-in-law Justin, niece Anise, nephew Chayton, and sister-in-law Codi, family gatherings became a cherished tradition. Kenton would arrive on his bicycle, greet everyone with a big hug, and then spend his time playing baseball with his niece and nephew, plucking melodies from his father’s guitar, or—if we were lucky—sharing some of his writing. His family will hold tightly to the memories of their time spent with Kenton camping, backpacking, climbing, celebrating birthdays, and sharing meals.

Kenton struggled with the idea of worthiness—whether he was worthy, whether he brought value to the world. In the end, his answer to that question was no. His friends and family have a very different answer. Ours is unequivocally yes. The world was a better place with Kenton in it, and our lives were fuller and more meaningful because of him. It is our fervent hope he knows this and is at peace.

The memorial will be held on Saturday, April 18, at Hyde Park Fellowship in Boise, Idaho, from 10:00–11:00 AM. The church will open at 9:30 AM for viewing photos and other memories of Kenton. A reception with informal sharing will follow at Camel’s Back Park in Boise from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM. All are welcome to attend.

In leu of flowers please donate to Boise Hive, Corpus Commons or Interfaith Sanctuary.

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988

Links to Kenton’s Writing
“Cause It’s There” 2022 First Place, First-Year Writing category, CWI President's Writing Awards
https://cwi.pressbooks.pub/urj/chapter/2022-first-place-cause-its-there/

“Heavy” 2025 First Place, Fiction Writing category, CWI President's Writing Awards
https://www.piperruthvisuals.com/heavy.html

“Dragon Tax” Excerpt
https://www.piperruthvisuals.com/dragontax.html