Ruth Ingrid Winkle

Ruth Ingrid Winkle, 91, of Spokane, Washington, died Thursday, May 17, 2018, in her home at Moran Vista Senior Living.

She was born December 4, 1926, in Nykøbing Sjaelland, Denmark, to Julius Arnold and Jenny Marie Kirstine (Hansen) Nielsen. Her family immigrated to the United States in 1927, and settled in Waterloo, Iowa. In 1939 her family, which included her brother, Willy Nielsen, moved to Los Angeles, California. There, she attend Washington High School, where she met her future husband, William Winkle Jr. Ruth attended Methodist Hospital in Los Angeles to become a Registered Nurse. She married William Winkle Jr. on August 21, 1948. Shortly after their marriage, they started their family with the birth of their first child William "Biff" Timothy. Ruth and Bill retired to Grand Coulee, Washington, in 1984, and she moved to Spokane in 2015.

Ruth was an avid cook, baker, knitter and seamstress. She loved to entertain friends and family, especially around the holidays.

Survivors include her five children and their spouses: Peggy Day (Alan) of Spokane; Jenny Schumaker (Dan) of Electric City, Washington; Tom Winkle (Eileen) of Kiln, MS; Sandy Larsen (Mike) of East Wenatchee, Washington; and Jim Winkle (Barb) of Mead, Washington; two nieces: Jette Langford of Roseville, California, and Lisa Bogosian of Tustin, California; and one nephew, Lars Jorgensen of Paso Robles, California; 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1988; her brother, Willy Nielsen; her cousins (Gurli and Jorgen Jorgensen) and her first child (William Timothy).

Ruth's celebration of resurrection and memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at 1 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Coulee. A graveside service will be held at Spring Canyon Cemetery immediately following.

A memorial service will be held at Moran Vista on Sunday, June 3, 2018, at 1 p.m.

If desired, memorials may be made to Lilac Services for the Blind at (509) 328-9116 or http://www.lilacblind.org, and Horizon Hospice & Palliative Care 509-489-4581 or http://www.horizonhospice.com.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at http://www.stratefuneralhome.com for the Winkle family. Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee, Washington is serving Ruth's family.