Ruth Letta Van Cleave

Ruth Letta Van Cleave, 85 of La Grande, died Sept. 13 at her home of natural causes.

At the family's request there will be no services.

Ruth was born Oct. 24, 1921, to Gottlieb and Elsie (Bauman) Fund in Prosser, Wash., the fifth of six children. Her parents were both born in Switzerland.

She was married to David A. Van Cleave in 1947 until he died in April 1997. Together they owned Twin V. Jewelers of Yakima, Wash. She retired in 1974. Those who knew her say Ruth loved her family as well as her Seventh-day Adventist church family.

Throughout their 50 years together, she and David enjoyed golf, bowling and gardening, and they were members of the Elks (BPOE) of Yakima. Ruth moved to La Grande in 2002 to be near her nephew and his family.

She is survived by her brother, Art Fund of California; sister, Margaret Hall of Walla Walla; nephews, Billi Lee Van Cleave of Yakima, Dwayne and his wife, Jane Fund, of Portland, and Steve and his wife, Tami Fund, of La Grande; grandnieces; one great-grandnephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brothers, John, Otto and Paul.