It’s with great sorrow that we announce the death of Ruth Boden on August 30, 2026, in the Cranbrook District Hospital.

Ruth was born in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland in 1943 and first moved to England to work as an au pair and nurse’s aide in 1962, where she met her first husband, Alan Boden. The two emigrated to Canada on board the Empress of England in 1968, eventually making their way to the Edmonton, Alberta area, then to Victoria, British Columbia and, later, in 1971, to Cranbrook. Here Ruth settled with her family, where she worked as a care aide in the Cranbrook District Hospital for many years.

One of Ruth’s lifelong passions was hiking around the Cranbrook area. One of her favourite walks was up to the summit of Eager Hill, which she did almost daily with dogs Heidi, Pavel and Jana. Animals were Ruth’s other great love: her home was always bustling with cats, dogs and sometimes birds. She supported many charities, no more so than the SPCA.

After the death of her husband, Alan, in 1996, Ruth was very happy to discover love again, when she met Claus Kessler in 2014, whom she married in 2022. The two remained in their Cranbrook home for the duration of their life together.

Ruth takes with her the memories of her parents, Alfred and Regina Beck; her first husband, Alan; her brothers, Alfred and Rolf; her sons, Andrew and Sean; her nieces, Laura, Vanessa, Natalie and Connie; all her great friends at the Heidout; and, of course, her beloved husband, Claus. One of Ruth’s great sorrows as a mother was being predeceased by her son, Gawain, in 2024.

If you would like to remember Ruth, she would have loved if you could donate to the Cranbrook SPCA or bring tea to the picnic table at the top of Eager Hill.

Ruth’s family will be remembering her in a private service.

mcphersonfh.com