Ruth K. Chapman Hedreen

Ruth Hedreen, 98, passed away peacefully of natural causes at Emerald Heights, Redmond, Washington. Her children, Carol, John, Ruthie and Andy were often at her side near the end.

Ruth was born and raised on the family farm in East Wenatchee, Washington. Her brother Charles often drove her and her sister, Lydia, to school in a buckboard, and later in the sidecar of a motorcycle. The family believed strongly in the arts and education.

After high school, Ruth attended the University of Washington, graduating with a degree in chemistry. This was an impressive accomplishment for a woman in the 1930s. Her future husband, Carl Hedreen, was a teaching assistant in chemistry and noticed the lovely, slender, blonde girl in his class. He switched classes with another TA so he could date her.

Ruth and Carl were married in 1935 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Seattle shortly after her graduation. Together they began a life that was to become an amazing adventure. They lived in Vancouver, B.C., San Mateo, California, and then in 1945 moved to Lima, Peru, where they lived for 20 years.

Ruth was very active in Lima in the American Women's Club, the American Literary Guild of Lima, and the Garden Club. She and Carl raised four children in Peru.

Ruth and Carl returned to Seattle in 1965. In 1975, they built a lovely home in Black Butte Ranch, where they enjoyed entertaining their children and grandchildren. They wintered in Palm Desert, California, at Bermuda Dunes. Ruth, always an avid reader, enjoyed the study of archaeology, anthropology, and ancient societies and civilizations. Her home was full of books on these subjects.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Carl. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Schlemowitz, sons John (Zully) Hedreen and Andrew (Judy) Hedreen, and daughter Ruth (Don) Alonso; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Following a celebration of her life, Ruth was laid to rest at Acacia Cemetery, Seattle, Washington on March 2. Remembrances or memorials may be made to Amigos del Peru Foundation, http://www.amigosdelperu.org.