Ruth Wickham

Ruth Elizabeth Barber Wickham was born March 13, 1928, in Rexburg, Idaho, to Margaret Wood Barber and Theodore “Ted” Barber. She joined her brother Ronald at the family farm and Independence, a small farming community close to Rexburg. The family was completed with siblings Donna, Larry, Karen and Lana. 

Ruth’s earliest days were spent playing and working with her family on the farm. They would often entertain extended family, where they would play music, move the rugs back and dance or give each other haircuts. They she attended church on Sunday, listened to the radio and played a lot of baseball. During the Depression, Mom once said that they didn’t notice the hardships because everyone was in the same situation. 

Ruth was a true tomboy. She dreamed of having a horse. Her dad promised her one if she could help him in the field that summer. Her hard work paid off, and she loved riding around the countryside with that horse. 

Along with her siblings, Ruth attended a one-room schoolhouse until eighth grade. She moved into town and attended Madison High School while living and working for her aunt and uncle and earning a little money. She attended school into twelfth grade. One of Ruth’s favorite activities was rollerskating. 

This is where she met a handsome young man named Calvin Wickham. He was headed off to war, so he asked her to write him during his service. Their relationship grew through this correspondence. By the end of the war, they had decided to marry. 

Calvin and Ruth’s first home was West Yellowstone, where Calvin had been hired to work for the REA power company. A little over a year later, Ruth had their first child, Janean. They moved to the small town of Ashton with Calvin’s job. They settled into the home Calvin had built. They added to the Baby Boom with the arrival of Denise, Larry, and Neal. Tomboy Ruth had grown into an excellent mother, wife, and homemaker. 

Ruth and Calvin, like many post-war couples, wanted to give back to their community. Being active in Lions Club, American Legion and other organizations made it possible to help Ashton become a better place for all. 

Our parents were best friends and great companions. Ruth was always up to whatever adventure Dad came up with, whether it was hunting or traveling. They visited most of the United States and many countries through the years. Her favorite places were Machu Picchu, Guatemala, and China, which had just opened its borders. 

In their retirement years, Ruth and Calvin spent time in Mexico and then lived in Casa Grande, Arizona. After Calvin’s death, Ruth moved to Sun City West. The summers were always spent at their home in Ashton looking out at their beautiful view of the Tetons.

Everyone that knew Ruth could see that she was special. She looked forward to spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They all loved coming home to Ashton to see her. She was gracious and made everyone feel welcome and loved. We could always count on her delicious home-cooked meals. She and her siblings, especially her sisters in the late years, remained close and supportive. She had many lifelong friends that were active parts of her life. She rarely missed a Wood or Barber family reunion. 

At 97 3/4, Ruth was still up walking and happy until her last couple of days. She was surrounded by her family when she died November 24, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin Wickham, her son Larry Wickham, her parents, Ted and Magaret Barber, her sister, Donna McGarry and her two brothers, Ronald and Larry Barber. She is survived by her children: Janean Wickham, Denise (John) Balmer, Neal (Anat) Wickham; grandchildren: Brandi (Mike) McCarron, John Micah (Charise) Balmer, Kent Clossin, Cori Villarreal, and Bert Wickham; great-grandchildren: Conner, Annie, Shelby McCarron, and Lainey, Macie, Kinli, and Rylan Balmer; sisters: Karen Swanson, and Lana Dayton. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ashton Senior Citizen’s Center. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3, at the Marysville Ward Chapel, 1313 North 3600 East, in Ashton, with Bishop Steven Reynolds officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Pineview Cemetery.