Ruth Brodie Cooney, a Southern beauty who never lost her accent or her boundless charm, passed away Wednesday night. Ruth and her devoted family had enjoyed a happy, busy summer highlighted by Ruth's first ride in the Fourth of July parade. Ruth was born March 20, 1918, in Washington D.C., the daughter of Steve and Verna Brodie. She received her early schooling in Washington and attended business school in South Carolina While working at the Public Works Administration in D.C., she met Montanan Rod Cooney. They were married in Washington May 2, 1941, three days after Rod was drafted. Ruth was especially proud of being one of the first employees to work at the newly built Pentagon building in the contracts division. At the end of World War II, Ruth took the long trek across the country with her husband so he could join the family business – Cooney Food Brokerage – in Butte. They made their home in the Mining City where they raised their three children, Pat, Linda, and Mike, and adopted daughter Erma , and enjoyed a full and happy marriage until Rod's death on August 19, 1976. Ruth was one of the first to be in the Mothers March of Dimes, was a long-time member of the Silver Bow Hospital Auxiliary and Aldersgate Methodist Church, and, in later years, enjoyed being part of a lunch group of ladies who called themselves the Golden Girls. She loved to travel – be it to Europe or to Wise River -- and cherished outings with her large and loving family. Her family will never forget this summer's thrill of seeing Ruth, with a smile from ear to ear, sitting in a pink Cadillac convertible waving to the crowd as this year's Strawberry Queen of the Marquis Vintage Suites, where Ruth lived the final few months of her life and enjoyed many activities and outings. Besides her beloved husband, Ruth was preceded in death by her father and mother, who lived to be 102; brother, Steve, a pilot who killed in World War II; sister Anita Ryan, and many other relatives and friends. She is survived by her children Linda (Terry) Whindom, Pat (Kim) Cooney, Mike (Dee Ann) Cooney, and Erma (Bob) Loucks; grandchildren Michael Whindom, Brodie (Kari) Cooney, Stephen (Paula) Cooney, Curtis (Rashan) Cooney, Jeffrey Cooney, Ryan (Erika) Cooney, and Adan and Colin Cooney; sisters, Jean (Bill) Sweeney and Joan Wolstein; brother Buzz (Darlene) Brodie; great-grandchildren Kieran, Gage, Emma, and Brady Cooney, and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Sunday from 5-7 at Duggan Dolan Mortuary. Services will be Monday at 11 at Aldersgate Methodist Church followed by burial at Mountain View Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Intermountain Children's Home (Butte Office), Paul Clark Ronald McDonald Place, Butte-Silver Bow Community Foundation or to a charity of your choice. And, as 3-year-old Emma said on the phone to her great-grandmother in her final moments: "Ruth, have fun with Jesus."