Ruth Cameron

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS - Ruth (Dixon) Cameron, 96, died of natural causes Tuesday, March 6, in White Sulphur Springs.

At her request, no services are planned. Twichel Funeral Home of White Sulphur Springs is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Cameron, who lived her 96 years with a true pioneer spirit, was born to Campsy Belle and Lawrence Dixon in Circleville, Ohio, on Sept. 16, 1915, while on a visit to Campsy's family home from their homestead near Harlowton. Ruth and her sister Leona grew up on the homestead. From a very young age, Ruth helped her father with the ranch work, herding sheep and bringing the workhorses and cows in before daylight. She also drove a four-horse team to do the plowing as a young girl. The sisters traveled to various country schools by foot or horseback, and both graduated from Harlowton High School.

Ruth married her high school sweetheart, Harry Cameron, of Findon, Mont., in 1933, and joined him on the family ranch on Mud Creek. Harry and Ruth spent their first summer together at the U.S. Forest Service fire lookout on Daisy Dean Peak, where Ruth learned to cook, and she and Harry played dice and poker by the light of a camp lantern. She was an excellent shot, and won a few pistol matches during those early years as the only female contestant. She and Harry later purchased the former Holliday Ranch on the North Fork of the Musselshell, where they spent the rest of their married life running the ranch and raising a family.

Ruth worked hard during those years. She cooked for large crews and shared in all of the outside work, as well as raising three children. She never complained and never said "no," no matter how hard the job. She was full of vitality and was the ultimate caregiver to everyone and all things. She always plunged herself into whatever task presented itself. This was a defining characteristic of Ruth throughout her life.

Ruth was a lifelong active member of Eastern Star, a charter member of the Montana Cowbelles and was active in Martinsdale Community Aid, as well as other organizations. Ruth enjoyed writing and was especially interested in Western history. Some of her submissions were published in national magazines. She wrote the Cattlewomen column and the Martinsdale News for the Meagher County News and the Harlowton Times for many years. She was also a long time weather observer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Ruth loved gardening and all types of needlework. She had large vegetable and flower gardens, both of which she watered from a ranch irrigation ditch - a labor intensive process. Ruth was known as an engaging conversationalist, a keen student of natural history, world culture and events; an avid reader, and in the latter part of her life an ardent baseball fan.

After Harry's death in 1976, Ruth enjoyed world travel with her sister, Leona, as well as her daughter, Janet, with trips to South America, Russia, Australia and Great Britain. She twice visited Scotland, where she spent time researching the Cameron family history. After some years, she moved into Harlowton, and later to White Sulphur Springs, where she remained for the rest of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry Cameron; her sister, Leona Mann; her son, George Cameron; and granddaughter Ellen Cameron.

She is survived by her daughter, Janet Zieg of White Sulphur Springs; her son, Gilbert Cameron of Martinsdale; five grandchildren, Jerry (Susan) Zieg of Spokane, Ann Cameron (Mike) Burk and Patricia Cameron (Denzel) Schmidt of Sidney, Molly Cameron of Harlowton, and Mariah Scee of Seattle; six great-grandchildren, Anna and Ian Zieg of Spokane, Conlan, Emily and Cassidy Burk of Helena, and Patrick (Nichole) Bergan of White Sulphur Springs; and one great-great-grandchild, Awstyn Bergan of White Sulphur Springs.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests you donate to a charity or organization of your choice in Ruth's memory.