Marion Margarette Cline Ruth

Marion Margarette Cline Ruth, 95, of Billings, passed away Wednesday morning, March 3, 2004, at Magnolia Place.
Marion came into this world during a very bad electric storm. The fourth child and only daughter of Joseph H. Cline and Etha Mae (Bartholow) Cline was born on July 22, 1908, in Concordia, Kan. In 1912, at the age of 4, she moved to Polson with her family, where her father built a five-story brick flour mill and an electric power plant. She graduated from Polson High School in 1927. Marion graduated from the University of Montana in Missoula in 1931 with a degree in music. She belonged to the Alpha Phi Sorority and was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a music sorority. She was also a member of Mortar Board, a senior scholastic honorary. She taught music for one year in Belgrade, following her graduation.
On July 26, 1932, in her parents home in Polson, she married Harold McBurney Ruth of Halstead, Kan. They had been married for 59 years at Harold's death on Sept. 13, 1991. In August 1932, they moved to Billings where Harold operated a Fire and Casualty Insurance Company. Their three children were born and raised in Billings. In 1968, they opened Gallery 85, the first western art gallery in Billings. They devoted many years to the gallery and to their love of art.
Marion was an active member of PEO, Chapter S, for 68 years. She was a member of The First United Methodist Church, the Corral of the Westerners, the Billings Symphony Women's Society and the Hilands Golf Club.
Many hours were spent on her favorite pastimes: playing the piano and if there is a bridge foursome playing in heaven, she will be there.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and her three brothers, Owen, Norman and John.
She is survived by her three children, Sara (Harry) Axline of Billings, Carolyn (Sid) Shrauger of Venice, Fla., and Mark (Martha) Ruth of Agana, Guam; five grandchildren, Jon (Lisa) Axline, Lindy Axline, Jeanne (Mike) Clausen, Erika Shrauger and Sam (Jeni) Shrauger; five great-grandchildren, Nick, Kelly, Jake, Kate and Kira. She is also survived by her niece, Joann Reksten of Polson and her sister-in-law, Ada (Bill) Unruh of Overland Park, Kan. Numerous other nieces and nephews survive, including Wally (Lucille) Olds of Red Lodge.
The family would like to thank the staff at Magnolia Place for the wonderful loving care Marion received during her time there.
Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at First United Methodist Church.
Memorials may be made to The Billings Symphony, The Yellowstone Art Center or a charity of your choice.

This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.