Ruth Marie Collard was born February 26, 1928, at the rural Ludell, KS home of her parents, John and Martha (Hanson) Holle.

She received Holy Baptism on March 16, 1928, by the pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ludell.

Her confirmation on May 24, 1942, at Enne Lutheran Church, Herndon, KS affirmed her belief in God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, including her lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She graduated from Atwood High School at Atwood, KS in 1946. After teaching for one year, she attended Pacific Lutheran College, Walla Walla College and Gustavus Adolphus at St. Peter, MN. She taught the lower grades at Ludell for two years prior to her marriage. She and the future Rev. Ernest Collard were married on June 1, 1952, at Enne Lutheran Church. They served the following Lutheran congregations: Good Hope, Gifford, ID; Peace, Tacoma, WA; Our Savior, Issaquah, WA; St. Paul, Quincy, WA; and Zion, Fairfield, WA. In retirement, they are members of Grace Lutheran, Wenatchee, WA. Death came to Ruth in Wenatchee on June 25, 2007, at the age of 79. She is survived by her husband of 55 years of East Wenatchee; and two children, Paul Collard of George, WA and Julie Thaemert of Quincy, WA; four grandchildren, Erika and Daniel Collard and Heidi and Robin Thaemert. Also, two brothers, Francis (Violet) Holle of Atwood, KS and Vern (Carolyn) Holle of Agra, KS; and one aunt, Mildred (Gerald) Lider of Bellevue, WA; as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding her in death was an infant son in 1957; her father in 1971; her mother in 1987; one brother, Delos Holle, March 16, 2007; and his wife, Kathy in 2002. Visitation will be Friday, June 29, 2007, at Telford's Chapel of the Valley in East Wenatchee. The Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, East Wenatchee and the Memorial Service at Grace Lutheran Church, Wenatchee, at 2:00 p.m., both on Saturday, June 30, 2007. Gifts in her memory may be given to the Grace Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, the ELCA World Hunger Fund, or the charity of one's choice.