Ruth Bessie Cade

Ruth B. Cade, 91, formerly of Longview, died February 1, 2025 in hospice care in the home of her daughter Ruth E. Stowaser an her husband John Stowaser in Aloha, Oregon. She was born August 17, 1933 in Kelso, Washington to parents William Frederick Aberle and Ruth Elizabeth (LaPlant) Aberle.

Ruth lived in the Kelso and Longview area for nearly all of her 91 years. She was in the national headlines in December of 1949 when she was lost in the wilderness for 4 days and 4 nights while looking for a Christmas tree with her local scout party. Newspapers across the country covered the story of the missing 16 year old girl scout who had been missing in the wilderness near Kelso, Washington. Some 500 men were reported searching for her. She was found in an old log cabin 10 miles from where she had been last seen. It was a Christmas story that touched many lives.

Ruth graduated from Kelso High School in 1951.

Ruth married Robert W. Cade, Jr. on November 20, 1951, 6 weeks after they had met. They were married for 55 years before he passed in May of 2005. Ruth Cade is survived by her two sons, Robert W. Cade, III of Meridianville, AL and Ross A Cade Sr. of Joshua Tree, CA.; a daughter Ruth E. Stowaser of Aloha, OR.; a sister, Caroline E. Schmit of Mead, WA. and five grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brothers, William Fergus Aberle, Frederick Wendall Aberle, and Frank Edward Aberle.

Ruth will be laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion at Longview Memorial Park.