Ruth Farkas

Click Here To View Memorial Video Ruth Carolyn Farkas, 86, of Idaho Falls, passed away peacefully at her home on May 25, 2015. She was under the care of Hospice of Eastern Idaho and her loving family. Ruth was born on October 21, 1928, in Herington, Kansas, to Dr. Elmer J. Reichley and Malenda Knuth Reichley. She grew up and attended both grade school and high school in Herington. Upon graduation from high school, Ruth attended Baker University, in Baldwin City, Kansas, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950. In the summer of 1950, Ruth worked as a camp counselor at Geneva Glen Camp near Indian Hills, Colorado, where she met the love of her life, Stephen W. Farkas. They were married on February 10, 1951 in Denton, Texas, where they both took post graduate music classes at North Texas State University. Ruth and Steve moved to Idaho Falls in the summer of 1952 where they have resided ever since. Music was the passion and focus of Ruth’s life. As a young girl, Ruth began giving piano lessons to others at the age of 15. She continued teaching for the next 71 years, stopping only three months before her death. She taught piano to hundreds of students over the course of her career, enriching their lives and leaving southeastern Idaho a more musical place. Ruth was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she also served as an organist for more than 60 years. She played as the accompanist for community productions of The Messiah, Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and Brigadoon, among others, and played the music for countless weddings and funerals in the area. Beyond her love of music, Ruth had a number of other interests‒ family, friends, gardening, cooking, square dancing, travel and the active pursuit of life-long learning. Her children and grandchildren have fond memories of her unwavering support and love. She will be remembered for her consistently positive outlook on life with a focus on the present and the future rather than on the past. Tackling the use of technology, researching investments, investigating the links between food and health, helping her husband with his musical, artistic and entrepreneurial ventures and learning Spanish in her 80’s were all pursuits of hers. Ruth is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Stephen Farkas of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Gail Farkas Eckhoff of San Ramon, CA; son, Paul (Virginia) Farkas of Eugene, OR; son, John (Cheri) Farkas of Buckeye, AZ; 4 grandchildren, Ben (Alicia) Farkas, Kevin (Jessica) Farkas, Rachel Farkas and Cameron (Kristina) Farkas and 2 great grandchildren, Caden Farkas and Charlotte Rose Farkas. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and by her two brothers, Zello and Vincent Reichley. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, at Trinity United Methodist Church, with Reverend Ruth Marsh officiating. The family will visit with friends and acquaintances immediately following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

Memorial Services will be held

2 pm ,Tuesday, June 2, 2015 Trinity United Methodist Church 237 N. Water Ave Idaho Falls, ID 83402 Notes: In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.