Ruth M. Martinez

RUTH MARGARET VALDEZ MARTINEZ

July 4, 1929 - December 30, 2025 

Ruth Margaret Valdez Martinez was born July 4, 1929 in Ulm, Wyoming to Roy and Priscilla Valdez. The first years of her young life, she was raised by her grandparents Santiago and Maria Torres, later she returned to live with her parents to help with the younger brothers and sisters.

Ruth attended school in St. Xavier, Montana up until the 7" grade, after that she no longer was able to attend school, as she had to help the family by working in the beet fields for her parents.

She then married Jess Rodriguez and lived in lona, Montana, and they later moved to Lodge Grass, Montana. Together they had four children. Later Ruth moved to Toppenish, Washington, where she married Domingo Martinez, and they had three children.

Our mother worked several jobs as a single parent of four small children. She worked as a cook, housekeeper, waitress, cannery worker and as she got older, she worked as a teacher's-aide for the Wapato School District, an Avon Representative, and worked in the fields alongside her children. She spent many years in the fields working, the sugar beets, hops, and in the mint fields, harvesting vegetables mainly green beans and tomatoes. Her pride was her children, she was proud of each one of them, and also was proud of all her grandchildren, following them in school activities and sports. Ruth loved her Mexican music and enjoyed dancing. Ruth was the mother of 7 children, 22 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, and 20 great great grandchildren.

Ruth (Cuca) is survived by her children Felix (Janie) Rodriguez, Lupe (Jim) Bell, Frank (Cheri) Rodriquez, Michele Valdez and Roy Martinez. She is also survived by her 4-sisters Lupe Watson, Anita (Leo) Harmon, both from Montana, Ramona (Ted) Somdahl of Minnesota, Jessie Ressler of Wyoming and numerous nieces and nephews as well as several bonus grandkids.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents Roy and Priscilla Valdez, Son Domingo Martinez, Jr., daughter Sonya Martinez Cook, Son-in-law Jose Valdez, Daughter-in-law Carmen Rodriguez, Sister Marie Valdez Omelas, Brothers Eladio, Pete and Roy Valdez, and her Brother-In-law Larry Ressler.

We thank God for the years He let us have mom in our lives. She lived a long 96 years of life and lived them to the fullest. She was the best cook best dancer, and best role model a child could have.

In life, she was Godmother to several children in the community including Father Ricardo A. Villarreal. Thank you for visiting her in the nursing home and for your last visit with her in the hospital. We will miss the many Fourth of July celebrations and Mother's Day B.B.Q'S. She was our little firecracker and always will be. Ruth was a devoted Catholic until the end, she earned her place in heaven. As a member of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, she was the leader of a group of ladies called Las Guadalupanas, and she enjoyed leading and meeting with them, always planning activities for the Church.

Today we ask that you keep us in your prayers and never forget her beautiful smile. Thank you for coming to say goodbye to our wonderful mother. I am sure she touched your life one way or another. God has her in his keeping, you hold her in your heart.