Philip Ruff

Philip “Phil” H. Ruff, 80, of Kellogg, Idaho, passed away September 7, 2013 at the Shoshone Medical Center of Kellogg. He was born November 7, 1932 at Andes, New York; Philip was the son of Reginald and Dorothy (Tremper) Ruff.

Philip attended and graduated from the Andes High School of Andes, New York in 1950. After graduation, Philip enlisted in the U.S. Air Force serving as a communications officer in Tripoli, Libya during the Korean Conflict. During his service, he received the National Defense Service medal. After an honorable discharge in 1954, Philip enrolled in the Forestry program at the University of Montana.

Philip married Cecelia Armstrong on July 24, 1955 at Walton, New York.

Philip spent thirty-five years as a Forester, beginning his career as part of a forest-wide timber survey and inventory of Region One stretching from Eastern Washington into the Dakotas. Later in his career, he was instrumental in the development of the watershed management and stream restoration programs on the Avery District of the Idaho Panhandle Forest. When he joined the Wallace District of the Idaho Panhandle Forest, Philip added Shop Steward for the National Federation of Federal Employees to his duties. Through this facet of his work, he was an advocate for employees, lobbying for their rights at home and in Washington D.C.

Besides being a source of strength and inspiration for his own two children, Philip also influenced the lives of many other children through his life-long work with the Boy Scouts of America. Starting as a Webelo Leader in 1968, Philip continued on to become Boy Scout Scoutmaster, always concerned with helping young people reach their fullest potential. For many years, he devoted his vacation time to acting as Commissioner at Camp Easton on Lake Coeur d’ Alene. Philip was a Vigil member in the Order of the Arrow which serves as Scouting’s National Honor Society recognizing Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. At the time of his death, Philip was a District Commissioner for the Inland Northwest Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He and his wife are both recipients of the Silver Beaver Award, a council-wide distinguished service award given to adults who have made an impact on the lives of youths through service given to the council. In 2011, Philip also received the Whitney M. Young Award for individuals who demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds.

In 1976, Philip settled with his family in Kellogg. Together with his wife, he continued his volunteer work with the Boy Scouts of America. As a veteran, he also became active in the American Legion Gus Zoellner Post 36; he had also served as Past Commander for this Post, as well as, other positions. In recent years, he worked tirelessly to erect the Silver Valley Veteran’s War Memorial, a monument to honor all of America’s veterans of foreign wars. Philip held a deep-seated belief that no soldier should be left behind, unrecognized for their service to their country. In his efforts, he oversaw the placement of six granite walls each engraved with the names of those who served.

The community chose to honor Philip with the Citizen of the Year by the Idaho State Elks Association in Kellogg and in 2012, he received the John N. Mattmiller Civic Achievement Award from the Historic Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce. Philip loved and enjoyed his family, hunting, fly-fishing, golfing and wood-working.

Philip is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Cecelia Ruff of the family home of Kellogg; his son Daniel Ruff and his partner Bonnie Wilson of Kellogg; one daughter Lisa Ruff and her husband Kirk Nelson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; one grandson Alex Ruff and his wife Crystal of Portland, Oregon; one great-granddaughter Emma Ruff also of Portland. Philip was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Robert Ruff and one sister Lois Thompson.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. at the Silver Valley Veteran’s Memorial Hall (Steelworkers Hall) of Kellogg.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Silver Valley Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 428, Kellogg, Idaho 83837.

SHOSHONE FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORY KELLOGG, IDAHO is entrusted with funeral arrangements.

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