Ruth Violet (Melin) Conlin

Ruth Violet (Melin) Conlin, 101, of Livingston, Montana, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Diamond K Lodge. A funeral service in honor of Ruth will be held on Thursday, March 12th, at 11:00 A.M. at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home, visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Burial will then take place at the Old Chico Cemetery. A gathering will then be at the Emigrant Hall.Ruth was born at Chico Hot Springs on August 18, 1918 to Leander Melin and Lelia (Wilcoxson) Melin. She was the oldest of their five children. She loved horses and had fun racing them with cars on the upper Mill Creek Road. She loved to dance and was a big help to her Dad on their ranch. She married Art Conlin in 1937 and lived under Emigrant Peak in a small log cabin for 10 years. It was here they welcomed their three daughters. She was one of the last pioneer women washing clothes on a washboard and having a wind charger to provide a little electricity. She raised a large garden where she had experiences with badgers and other wildlife. They moved down to the ranch house in 1947.Ruth was an animal lover, she had special affection for cats and horses. She spent much time caring for newborn lambs and calves. They liked to watch the lambs and calves play in the spring. She enjoyed irrigating and did a lot of canning fruits and vegetables. She was a good seamstress and provided her three daughters with many outfits as they were all in high school at the same time. Ruth so enjoyed participating with the Park County Pioneer Society and attending their yearly banquets. Also, her horse, Goldie was part of the Conlin family for many years.Survivors include her daughters, Margaret Lee Conlin of Great Falls and Evelyn Richardson (Frank) of Billings. She also has 6 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her husband, Art Conlin and her daughter, Annette Geer. Also, her sisters, Mildred Ball, and Helen Fuller, Alice Townsend and her brother, Bob Melin.If so, desired memorials may be directed to the Local Humane Society or the Cancer Society.Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.