Ruth Virginia Thayer

Ruthie was born in Little Falls, Minnesota, on July 1, 1935, to Cora and John Rajkowski. She was the oldest of 4 sisters. She attended Catholic girls' school, and after graduating, she worked at Prudential Insurance Company, where she met her future husband, Roy Thayer. They were married on June 30, 1956, just one day shy of Ruthie’s 21st birthday. They had 2 daughters: Julie (Thayer) Giese and Jennifer (Thayer) Profic. Together, Ruthie and Roy owned Coast to Coast hardware stores in Evansville, WI, Hutchinson, MN, Boise, and Idaho Falls, ID. Eventually, Ruth and Roy moved to San Carlos, Mexico, for many years, where they enjoyed the sandy beaches and fishing. They then returned to Idaho in 2008. Ruthie and Roy celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on June 30, 2026.

Ruthie was an extremely beautiful and artistic person. She decorated her many residences with flair and color. She attended a number of college classes in design and in another of her favorite subjects, Mycology, the study of mushrooms. She loved to comb the countryside wherever she lived, picking decorative weeds and wildflowers to dry and make into bouquets, or walk the beach in San Carlos, picking up shells and stones. Some of her hobbies were polishing rocks and painting rocks with lifelike flowers and animals. In her later years, she began to grow, clean, and paint her own gourds, becoming a member of the Idaho Gourd Society and showing and selling her work at various events.

She enjoyed working in her garden and was always happy to share the vegetables she grew with others. Ruthie was an excellent cook; she loved making delicious meals and entertaining her family and friends. She also loved gathering with everyone around the card table, where she was known for her competitive spirit. She always insisted she never won, but her coin bag told a different story. She had a love of travel, and she and Roy took dozens of cruises together, visiting many countries and major cities around the world. Her beloved cat Tinsel was her pride and joy.

Ruthie was preceded in death by her parents and 2 sisters, Marguerite Harvey and Brenda Teichman. She is survived by her husband, Roy, and 2 daughters: Julie Giese (Jerry) and their daughters, Dr. Morgan Giese (Anthony Warmuth) of Madison, Wisconsin, and Alix Geist (Stephen Geist) of Boise, and two great-grandchildren; and Jennifer Profic (Michael Profic) and grandchildren Julie Profic and Colton Profic of North Carolina. Her grandchildren knew her as Gramie. In addition, she is survived by her youngest sister, Jane McKeever, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of life for Ruthie is being planned and will be posted here in the near future. In honor of our wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, we will be wearing pink.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.