Helen "Ruth" (Alger) Collins

April 10, 1923 - August 01, 2009

Helen "Ruth" (Alger) Collins Obituary (Age 86) Passed away on August 1, 2009 in Spokane. She has been reunited with her husband Elmer Ray Collins, who preceded her in death in January 1967. She was widowed 42 years, and had always remained faithful to her first love, and married 70 years. Ruth was born on April 10th, 1923 in Hiawatha, Utah. Born to; Grover Carlos Alger and LaVerda Winkler. She was the fourth child of 10, Donna, Verle, Shirley, herself, Dale, Glenna, Ned, Kirk, Myrna, and Terry. She had many stories of early life with her family; she grew up in the coal mining area of Utah, milked cows, and herded cattle in the summer. She often talked about her and her father?s shared love for baseball, they played on a number of teams and as often as they could. She would sometimes sneak out of her bedroom window just to go play baseball. She would laugh and say that her friends had given her the nickname of ?Babe Ruth?. On October 31st, 1938, at the age of 15, she eloped with Elmer Ray Collins. Together they began a life in the coal fields of Utah, then moving to West Virginia, Arizona and eventually to the Spokane area in 1949. Here they worked side by side building new homes, until the passing of Ray. Following his passing Ruth continued the family construction business, and 1980 was featured in an article of the Spokesman Review as the only female General Contractor listed in the state of Washington. In doing so she continued to raise two sons still at home, Gary and Tracy the family?s youngest. Helen Ruth Alger Collins was and is a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; she has always found great strength in her life because of her strong faith in her Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal life to come. Her favorite scripture is Isaiah 40:31. We will all miss her. She is survived by her son; Robert Ray Collins (Karen), of Spokane, her daughter Peggy Ann Grady , of Bishop, CA, son Gary Lee Collins (Kathleen) of Spokane, and son Tracy Scott Collins (Stephanie), also of Spokane. She is also survived by her younger brother Kirk Alger of Bountiful, UT, and sister Myrna (Jay) Rasmussen of El Paso, TX, and youngest brother Terry (Janet) Alger, of St. George, UT. She has 14 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband E. Ray Collins, sisters Donna Judd, Verle Kos, Shirley Alger, Glenna Pollastro, and brothers? Dale Alger, and Ned R. Alger. Services will be held on Thursday, August 6th, Viewing at 1:00 P.M. and Funeral Service at 2:00 P.M. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 444