Life Tribute – Ruth Devina (Hicks) Blickenstaff

Ruth Devina (Hicks) Blickenstaff

Ruth Devina (Hicks) Blickenstaff passed away in Susanville, California peacefully at 86 on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, after battling Alzheimers for seven years. She was born Sept. 16, 1934 in Susanville to Robert B. Hicks, Sr. and Mary (Davidson) Hicks.

She was raised in Lassen County, graduated from Lassen High School in 1952 and married her childhood sweetheart, Donald Ray Blickenstaff on Dec. 18, 1952. They were married 68 years. They had four children whom survive their mother: Debra Blickenstaff Kelsay and Doug Kelsay, of Bastrop, Texas; Sandra Blickenstaff Ellena and John Ellena, of Janeville, California; Terri Blickenstaff Bigsby and Robert Bigsby, of Bastrop, Texas and Timothy Edward Blickenstaff, of Janesville, California. Ruth is also survived by her brothers Robert B. Hicks Jr., of Susanville; Peter F. Hicks, of Tehachapi, California and Jamie Hicks; a sister, Joan (Hicks) Snipes of Eureka, California and her mother and father preceded her in death. Ruth had 16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

Ruth and Don and kids moved to San Luis Obispo, California in 1963 where Don completed his agricultural engineering degree at Cal Polytechnic College. Upon graduating in 1965 Del Monte hired him, and the family moved to Hawaii until 1972 when the family moved to Kenya, East Africa and to work for Kenya Canners, a subsidiary of Del Monte. They returned to Janesville in 1974 and designed and built their dream home, which included her sunroom for her green thumb and his den for his Hawaiian and African trophies.

Ruth was a wonderful wife, homemaker and mother. She had several jobs throughout the years. She supported Don in their moves. In Hawaii she took Hula lessons and participated in a neighborhood dance recital.

Ruth always loved plants. She was a real good shot and rescued Terri and Timmy from a rattler. She loved playing pinochle and games with her kids and grandkids and doing puzzles. She was a very serious collector of   books, bells and music boxes.

The burial of her ashes will be in June of 2021.

Anyone wishing to make a donation, please do so to Alzheimers Research.