Ruth Anne Borders

Our beautiful Ruth crossed over Jordan on March 5, 2026, after complications from cancer. She was 81, just a couple of months shy of her 82nd birthday.

Ruth Anne was born on May 22, 1944, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Marjorie Holtzendorff Duckett and Jefferson Gassaway Duckett. She shared her birthday with her father and was the eldest of four siblings. Her father was a minister who planted churches in several states, which meant the family moved often during her childhood. Despite the many moves, Ruth fondly remembered places like Tumwater and Wenatchee, two of her favorite spots growing up.

Music was a lifelong love for Ruth. She frequently sang in church choirs and enjoyed playing the piano both for her own enjoyment and for church services.

Ruth became a mother early in life, welcoming two daughters, Janelle and Shelley.

Determined and hardworking, Ruth paid her own way through school by picking cherries. First attending Western Baptist Bible College, then later graduating in 1966 as a diploma Registered Nurse from Highland School of Nursing. In the 1970s Ruth taught practical nursing at Northwest Nazarene College. Ruth earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Boise State University and later completed her Master’s Degree, becoming a board-certified Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). She worked with Boise Anesthesia at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise,Idaho, from 1983 until her retirement in 2007.

Ruth was also very athletic. In her youth she was known for record times in the 50-yard dash.Throughout her life she loved biking, hiking, pickleball, and especially tennis. At the local Racquet Club she became famous for her strategic lob shots that often sent opponents scrambling. Friends still tell stories about her competitive spirit and skill on the court. In 1987,Ruth won first place in Ladies Singles at the Boise Swim & Racquet Club.

Ruth met Rick when she decided to take dancing lessons—he happened to be the instructor.Their shared love of dancing became a special part of their life together. When they built their home, they even included a dance room. Many joyful hours were spent there introducing their grandchildren to Lawrence Welk and teaching them line dancing.

Ruth and Rick also created countless memories with their grandchildren at their cabin in Cascade. Days were filled with boating, hiking, huckleberry picking, scooter rides, and campfire s’mores. In town, bike rides often included stops for candy or ice cream.

Traveling together was another favorite pastime. Over the years they owned several RVs, and each branch of the family shared adventures with them along the way. Their travels included“glamping” at roadside stops, nights in Walmart parking lots, trips to California and Montana,winters in Arizona, and visits to the Oregon coast. They also enjoyed ATV and UTV rides with a local riding club or simply exploring on their own.

Ruth will be remembered for her gentle nature, her welcoming spirit as the “hostess with the most-est,” and her infectious laughter—something many family members proudly claim to have inherited.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jeff and Jo Duckett.

Ruth is survived by her beloved husband of 34 years, Richard A. Borders of Boise, Idaho; her daughters, Janelle (Steve) Marx and Shelley (Chad) Vincent; her step-sons, Jeff (Maria) Borders and Chris (Franzi) Borders; her sisters, Joan Louise (Richard) Elliott of Redding, California, and Kay Holtzendorff (Dean) Zoetewey of Lodi, California; and her brother, Jeff Duckett of California. She also leaves behind seven granddaughters, five grandsons, and numerous nieces and nephews who will cherish her memory.

A Celebration of Life will be held at The Stonehouse at the Boise RAM on Saturday April 11,2026 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. The address is 709 E. Park Blvd., Boise, ID 83712.