Betty Ruff

Betty “Jeanne” (Wedel) Ruff was born on March 25, 1939, in Hardin, Montana to Elvin W. and Marguerite C. (Garrett) Wedel. The third of four children, she was raised on the family farm in a musical family and could play a mean honky-tonk piano. She passed this love of music along to her kids and supported them in all of their musical and life endeavors. She attended school in Hardin, Howie country school during its' final year, Big Timber, and graduated from Joliet High School. She met and married her lifelong love, David W “Bill” Ruff while in Joliet. She and Bill had two children while Bill was serving at FT Bragg, NC in the US Army. Bill was a truck driver and Jeanne worked in the office at various trucking firms throughout her life. Once her children were grown, Jeanne traded in her office chair for the seat and steering wheel of a Peterbilt semi, where she and Bill traveled the US together, hauling goods from here to there and back. When not on the road, her home was always open to kids and

stray animals. She was an unforgettable individual and though small in stature, she loomed large in her presence. She is survived by her children: Billie Jean Ruff (Ron Egeland) of Billings, Michael W “Bill” (Rene`) Ruff of Pima, AZ, Sisters; Joyce Tvetene of Billings, June (Richard) Lohof of Laurel, dear friend Frank McCloney of Lockwood, four grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, brother Joe Wedel, and by her parents.

The family would like to thank the staff of West Park Village as well as RiverStone Hospice for their loving care of Jeanne.

Jeanne has chosen to be cremated and the family will plan a future gathering, where we can all celebrate her life. At that time, she will be placed next to her husband Bill in the Joliet Cemetery.