Ruther Flandro

Ruth Helen Reese FLANDRO, of Pocatello and formerly of Salt Lake City, passed away peacefully of natural causes February 2, 2009. She was born January 15, 1916 in Oakley, Idaho to Enoch William and Ruth Dahlquist Reese. As a young child the family returned to Salt Lake City where she received her education, graduating from East High and then from the University of Utah in 1937. She was affiliated with the Chi Omega sorority , serving as President and delegate to the national convention at the Green Briar Hotel in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia where she fondly remembered a private meeting with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and an excellent discussion about leadership and civic involvement. Helen was active in numerous other student activities. Following graduation she was employed by Mountain Bell as administrative assistant to the district manager and later worked for GMAC in Salt Lake. She married Robert Clough Flandro of Salt Lake City in San Francisco on June 6, 1942. During World War II while her husband served in naval intelligence as a radar officer on an attack transport in the South Pacific, she worked in San Francisco for the Office of War Information. After the war they returned to Salt Lake City where her husband Bob worked for Ford Motor Company as District Sales Office Manager. In 1948 they moved to Pocatello, Idaho where Bob joined his brother in the C. Ed Flandro Ford automobile business until the business was sold in 1992. In Pocatello she was active in various civic activities and was a long time member of PEO, Chapter AK. Her greatest enjoyment was being with her family and she volunteered for numerous activities of her four sons in scouting, Bannock baseball, skiing events and other school and extracurricular events in Pocatello. Spending time together at the condominium in Sun Valley with husband Bob, her four sons, daughters-in-law and grand children was particularly enjoyable and most memorable. Bob and Helen have four sons, Robert Reese (Jude) of Pocatello, William Eugene (Suzi) of Salt Lake, Gerald Reese (Debbie) of Boise, and Dr. Michael Reese (Millie) of Pocatello, two grandsons Ryan (Susan) Ben, and two granddaughters Elissa Megan. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert C., parents, and four brothers, Roy, Bill, Jack and Tom. Funeral Services are scheduled for Wednesday February 11, 2009 at the Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4th Ave in Pocatello, Idaho at 1:00 pm with viewing from 11:30-1:00. Burial will be at Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello following the service. Family suggests contributions to a charity of their choice. The Family would like to thank Dr. Lavonne Mills, Portneuf Medical Center emergency room, and special thanks to the wonderful staff at Quail Ridge Assisted Living Facility who provided quality activities, care, and support for Helen the past 7 years.