Ruby Ann Bartell

Ruby Ann Bartell, a lovely, refined lady, was born on a farm near Hillsboro, KS on October 4h, 1918. She was the oldest of seven children – five girls and two boys.

A few years later, the Friesen family moved to Chicago in time for her to start grade school. By the time she was ready to graduate from the 8th grade, the family was living in Weatherford, OK. While attending the M.B. church in Weatherford, she accepted the Lord as her personal Savior. Only six weeks after school started the following fall, her family moved to Inola, OK, for the rest of the 9th grade year. Her father, H.S. Friesen, purchased the telephone office in Inola and she stayed home from school for several years to be the chief operator until the business was sold. It was here at the Inman church that Ruby was baptized and joined the Inman M.B. church.

From there, in 1937, they moved to Inman where her father taught at Zoar Academy and she was again a student. Ruby graduated in the spring of 1938 as class valedictorian. The next move took them to Buhler, KS where she attended Buhler High School, graduating in 1940 at age 21.

Shortly after graduation, the family again moved – this time to Reedley, CA. There was plenty of work in the orchards and the packing sheds. So, Ruby went to work packing peaches and grapes.

In the summer of 1941, Ruby met a handsome young man and fun loving guy by the name of Elmer Bartell, who loved to ride motorcycles. The two families had been friends in OK and were frequent guests at each other’s homes for Sunday dinners. On the first “date,” Elmer took Ruby and his sister, Rachel on a day trip to General Grant National Park. By Christmas, Elmer and Ruby were engaged.

The following June 1st, 1942, Elmer and Ruby were married in a backyard ceremony attended by many relatives and friends. Their first home was the Eyman farm in Reedley. Their neighbors, a Japanese-American Family, were forced to go to an internment camp for the remainder of WWII. Elmer was able to take over their farm until he was drafted into the Army. Ruby was able to follow him to some of his various duty stations. She was able to pick up various jobs each time they moved. In Medford, OR, she worked as a dishwasher in the service club; in Corvallis, OR, She worked for Safeway; and in Macomb, IL, she worked in another grocery store.

Upon Elmer’s discharge from the Army, they traveled to New York to visit some military friends from Oregon. This included such sights as the Empire State Building, touring Rockefeller Center, and viewed the sights of the city from the crown windows of the Statute of Liberty. Niagara Falls was on the itinerary, but the weather wasn’t cooperating.

Elmer and Ruby continued on to Dinuba, CA, where they rented a house. Elmer found work with the Union Oil Company. In 1947, they adopted a cute, dark-haired, 6-day old boy whom they named Larry Dean. Two years later, Ruby gave birth to Wesley Paul, a blond towhead.

Elmer was anxious to get back to farming. The prices had escalated in the Reedley-Dinuba area and were out of the range for this young couple who were looking to buy land. So, they decided to move to Lynden, WA, a small town near the U.S./Canadian border. They rented for a few years and then were able to purchase their own farm. That is where Larry and Wesley started grades school. Both Elmer and Ruby work the farm, but in order to make the monthly installments, they had to find other jobs as well; Elmer was driving truck for Whatcom Builders Supply, a cement company, and Ruby worked at the Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Office for many years. When the government closed that office, she then went to work for the Hinton Chevrolet/Oldsmobile dealer in Lynden.

Elmer and Ruby enjoyed the farm, although it was a lot of work. They started with a herd of dairy cows. Ruby loved the animals, helped milk the cows as well as keeping food on the table. In 1958 they had to sell the cows because it was too hard for them for their small herd and working off the farm. They invested in beef cattle, and chickens. Ruby’s father was instrumental in building the chicken coop and a new house in 1964.

In 1967, with Larry and Wesley going off to college, they sold the farm and moved to Ferndale, WA. Elmer continued to work at Whatcom Builders Supply and Ruby took a job at Harold Fast’s air conditioning and sheet metal.

Elmer was forced to retire due to health reason in 1974, so they decided to spend time with Larry and Wesley who lived in Florida. Always wanting to be snow birds and wanting to see the grandchildren, they spent the winter of 1976 living 3 months near Wesley and Beverly in Jacksonville, FL, and another 3 months living near Larry and Karen in Pensacola, FL. Needless to say, coming from Washington to spend a very warm winter in Florida was not what they expected – they were expecting rain and snow.

1980 was a difficult year for the entire family. Wesley was living in San Jose, CA and Larry and Karen had just moved to be near their families in Ferndale, WA. On July 15th, Larry was on a business trip to the Midwest when he passed away with a heart condition. Karen and three young children were left behind. Then a month later, Elmer died from leukemia.

Two years later, Ruby wanted to be closer to Wesley, so she sold the house and moved to San Jose, CA. In September, 2004, she followed Wesley to Bakersfield, CA, where she moved in with Wesley and Beverly who were now empty nesters.

Ruby became more fragile and forgetful and needed more care, so she moved into Glenwood Gardens for two years and then on to Carrington Assisted Living where she lived out her life. Staff at both residences thought she was the sweetest resident and always said what she thought.

Throughout her life, Ruby was always active in the churches she attended – singing alto in the choir, hosting Bible studies, housing visitors, volunteering much of her time wherever she could be of service.

At this time, the family she leaves behind are: Son, Wesley Bartell and wife, Beverly; Grandchild, Michael Bartell and wife, Robin of Clovis; Great grandchildren, Sophia and Nathan Bartell; Grandchild Lynnette Mayhew and husband, Isaac of Fresno; Daughter-in-law, Larry’s wife Karen Walker of Ferndale, WA; Granddaughter, Stephanie Rose and husband, Jon of Goleta, CA; Great grandchildren, Samantha, Isabella, and Easton Rose; Granddaughter, Shelly Pommer and husband, Matt of Renton, WA; Great grandchildren, Micah and Josephine Pommer; Grandson, Jeremy Bartell and wife, Neely of Longview, TX; Great grandchildren Logan, Landon, and Hudson, Bartell.