McKechnie, Ruth DUNKIRK - Ruth McKechnie, 100, a longtime Dunkirk farm and ranch wife, and former Dunkirk postmaster, died of natural causes Thursday at her home. Funeral services are 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, at Shelby United Methodist Church, followed by a reception at the Shelby Senior Center. Graveside services are 6 p.m. at the family plot in Dunkirk Cemetery. Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester. Viola Ruth McKechnie passed away on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2010. She was born May 24, 1910, the only child born to James and Mae (Fishell) Blackford on a farm near Hopkins, Mo. When she was 3 years old, Ruth and her parents moved near Milestone, Saskatchewan. She attended grade school in Regina, Saskatchewan. The family moved to Shelby, Mont., in 1923. Ruth graduated from Shelby High School in 1927, and earned her B.A. degree from the Intermountain Union College in Helena in 1931. After college, she worked in the law office of G.C. Hoyt in Shelby. Ruth married James McKechnie on Jan. 16, 1939, in Conrad. Three children - Harlan, Bonnie, and Eileen - were born to this union. Upon their marriage, Jim and Ruth purchased the Dunkirk General Store and Post Office, where Ruth served as storekeeper and postmaster for 19 years, until the post office was discontinued in 1958. Jim and Ruth were involved in their farming and ranching operation, which included McKechnie Herefords purebred cattle; they enjoyed many good times with friends in the Marias Hereford Breeders. Jim and Ruth enjoyed square dancing and ballroom dancing to their favorite bands: "The Happy Four" and "The Mom and Dads." Ruth was active for nearly 50 years in Home Extension work, and spent many happy times in the Prairie Hens Home Extension Club. She was a 4-H leader and loyal supporter of 4-H for many years. Ruth was a devoted and loyal duplicate bridge player in the Shelby Unit for many years. She was a longtime member of the Shelby Methodist Church and a 50-year member of Eastern Star. Ruth was an unofficial historian of the Dunkirk community and the Shelby area. With her excellent memory of people and events, she was often sought out for information on homesteads and burial places. Ruth was very proud and honored to be recognized and celebrated on several occasions for her 100th birthday in May. In her last few years, she enjoyed playing party bridge with friends at the center and whist games with her friend Sig Grinde. Ruth also enjoyed the daily newspaper crossword puzzles and watching "JEOPARDY!" on television. Ruth is survived by daughters Bonnie (Leroy) Flesch of Conrad, and Eileen (Don) Pettigrew of Great Falls and Shelby; grandchildren Julie (Brad) Fisher and their children, Tiffany, Kylie and Max, all of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Justin McKechnie of Great Falls; Jill Newman and her daughter, Hannah, of Bozeman; Rachel (Aaron) Brown and their children Ashlyn and Ethan, all of Cut Bank; Hyer McKechnie of Dunkirk; Gary (Lois) Flesch of Helena; Lisa (Alan) Snell and their children, Amanda and Adam, all of Helena; Lea (Jay) Peterson and their children, Meaghan and Paul, all of Alder; Ty (Nancy) Pettigrew and their children, Keeley, Kinsey, Kayley and Korey, all of Hilmar, Calif.; and Amy (Blake) Ellis of Missoula. Ruth also is survived by special daughters-in-law Bernice Hoffman of Great Falls, and Jo Zeitner of Shelby; sisters- and brothers-in-law Dorothy Bronken of Missoula, Harris (Evelyn) McKechnie of Milton, Wash., and Sam (Karen) McKechnie of Billings; many treasured nieces and nephews, along with several much- appreciated friends and neighbors. Ruth was preceded in death by Jim, her beloved husband of 62 years, in October 2001, and son Harlan in November 2005. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shelby Methodist Church. Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries. Published in Great Falls Tribune on August 8, 2010