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Note: Miss McDonald Arrives A daughter was born last night to Mr. and Mrs. John H. McDonald, 1339 Garden street. Ruth [McDonald] Janke Timeline
1876 29 Feb. Father, John Hiram McDonald born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to John Birch McDonald and Lucy Eliza Sharratt. 1877 27 Sept. Mother, Isabel Corrine King born in Kingsville to Alfred Luther King and Maria Hurlburt.
1902 26 Apr. Husband, Walter August Frederic Janke born in Bernsdorf, Pommern, to Fritz Janke and Emilie Kammholz.
1907 5 Nov. Belle King 25, nurse, marries John H. McDonald 31 in Gresham. They met when he was her patient at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. 1908 17 Mar. John H. McDonald elected "Exalted Ruler" of the Walla Walla Elks Lodge for the coming year.
1910 16 Feb. Ruth Sara McDonald born in Walla Walla at 7 pm, first and only child of John H. McDonald 34, lawyer, and Isabelle C. King 32, housewife, living at 1339 Garden Street. 1910-11 Her father is working as register in the U. S. Land Office. 1911-13 Family moves to 621 Pearson St. Father continues Land Office work. 1914 Takes a trip to Hawaii with her parents, reportedly to help the marriage. 1914,1915 Her father is now president of the Washington Printing + Book Mnfg. Co., publishers of the Daily + Sunday Union. The family is now living at 609 Pearson St. 1916 Ruth begins first grade at Sharpstein Elementary School in Walla Walla. 1918 Her father is manager of the Strand Theatre, where Chaplin comedies are shown exclusively. Family living at 238 Fulton St. 19196 MayBelle buys property on Newell + Palouse Streets, the family's final home in Walla Walla. 1920 5 Jan. J. H. McDonald 45, operator motion picture theatre, living with wife Isabelle 40 and daughter Ruth 10, at 229 Newell St. in the Birch Pct. of Walla Walla, 1920 Census. Her father is again Exalted Ruler of Walla Walla Elks Lodge. 1921 Her father buys Arcade Theatre from R. W. Cram, complete with Photoplay pipe organ w. 10,000 ft. of lead tubing and its key deck in the orchestra pit. 1921-22 John H (Isabel C) McDonald (Arcade Theatre, 115 W. Main), h. 229 Newell, val. $9,100. 1923 Her father sells the Arcade Theatre to Guy E. Terhune. 13 Mar. Her mother serves her father with divorce summons. Grounds: "an indifferent attitude towards home life and family." Belle quits claim to property on Newell + Palouse to her husband and moves to Long Beach with Ruth. Sept. Ruth enters Bishop's School for girls in La Jolla, California. She describes the next three years as the happiest of her life. 1924 31 Mar. Divorce granted. Her father continues living as a lodger in their old house with H. C. Tilley and wife. Fall Her father spends two months in Portland hospital, returning in improved health. Night editor of the Walla Walla Union. 1925 27 Mar. Belle is living on Alexander Avenue in Claremont, 2 months later at the Wiltshire Apartments (No. 207) at 671 South Coronado Street in Los Angeles 192629 Mar.Her father executes his last will and testament, leaving $100 each to his daughter, to Mrs. H.C. Tilley and to Mrs. Vura Walker. The rest of his estate is to go to his mother Eliza of Portland. 10 JuneHer uncle, Dr. A.E.King, arrested for drunk driving, hitting another car and driving off the road. Sentenced to 60 days on July 7. JuneRuth graduates from The Bishop's School, winning gold coins as prizes in both English and Latin. Her health is poor and there is talk in letters between her Granny and her mother about Ruth staying out of school for a year. 13 JulyHer father, aged 50, dies at St. Mary's Hospital, Walla Walla, at 7 a.m. of pneumonia with acute nephritis. Reportedly, she saw him only once after the divorce, when he visited in Long Beach and she felt embarrassed because they had nothing to say. Aug.-Nov.Her mother lives in Claremont, California, where she bought an orange orchard. Ruth begins college at Pomona, living in dormitory rather than with her mother. 7 Dec.Beloved Granny, Maria Almira Hurlburt King, dies in Portland at age 79. 1927Sept.Ruth enters Reed College in Portland, transferring in after her freshman year at Pomona College. She lives with her mother and remembers she would walk onto campus saying to herself, "I wish I were dead. I wish I were dead."
1930JuneGraduates from Reed College, having written her thesis on G. K. Chesterton. Sept.Studies at Ellensburg Normal College to obtain her teaching certificate. 1931AugustPurchases property in Oysterville, with her mother, for $400. 1932?Graduate studies at University of Washington in Seattle. 1933?Teaches highschool in Antelope, Oregon. Her Uncle Fred, formerly a physician here, may have helped her get the job. 1936Walter's parents die within a month of each other in Berlin. He wrote his mother frequently, but never saw them again. His path and Ruth's have not yet crossed. 1937Begins teaching in Klickitat, Washington. Meets Walter there, her 'local yokel.' They meet in the local restaurant, later sit courting to Beethoven's Eighth on the porch of the principal's house where she boarded. 1938JuneRuth travels to England and Scandinavia with her mother. Her fianc� Walter sends gardenias to her stateroom in NY before departure. But she hates gardenias. 20 Aug.Ruth marries Walter F. Janke in Portland despite her mother's wish to postpone the marriage. It is held at 2237 NE Stanton, the home her mother inherited from her Aunt Alice earlier in the year.Witnesses: Sarah Short and Isabel McDonald. Honeymoon of two weeks in Cannon Beach and Oysterville, where they eat at Heckes Inn. Returning to Klickitat, she is forced by law as a married woman to give up teaching.
194016 JulyFirst son, Peter King Janke, born in Portland. 1943The family moves from Klickitat, Wash., to Portland, living at 1066 S.E. Taylor. Walter works for Cunocar Accounting. 194417 Jan.Second son, Timothy W. Janke, born in Portland. 1946The family moves from Portland to Lebanon, Oregon, where Walter works for Lebanon Lumber, later opens his own Cunocar Accounting office. 1948?Ruth resumes her teaching career, first at Crowfoot and then teaching English and Latin at Lebanon Union High School. 19499 Sept.Her uncle A. E. King dies of throat cancer in his room at the Nortonia Hotel [SW Stark & 11th] in Portland at age 73. 1950?Her mother shows first signs of Alzheimer's by cooking two separate roasts in both halves of her Stanton St. duplex. 1951Belle moves to live with Ruth's family at 412 E. Ash St. in Lebanon, OR. Sept.Ruth sends her son Peter to boarding school in Canada at age 11. 1952?Her mother enters nursing home, now completely senile and no longer recognizing her daughter. 195527 Oct.Her mother dies at Colonial Manor Rest Home in Portland at age 77. 1956Sept.Tim enters Shawnigan Lake School in Canada at age 12. Ruth has frequent psychiatric consultation during this period, including shock treatments. 195718 Aug.Family leaves for 3 month trip to England, Scotland, Germany, Italy, France, returning 18 Nov. This is Walter's first return to Germany since leaving in January 1923. Nov.Peter attends Lebanon Union High School for remainder of year. Ruth continues her teaching after leave of absence. 195911 Dec.Her Aunt Sazie, Sarah A. King, dies in Portland at age 85.
1978Ruth and Walter move from Lebanon to Tualatin to be closer to their sons in Portland. They rent until 1983.
1983Purchase home at 1620 S.E. 41st Street, Portland. 19907 Jan.Husband Walter dies in Good Samaritan Hospital at age 87 in presence of Ruth and Peter.
1996JuneRuth finally moves from her home on SE 41st and moves into Mt. Angel Towers, assisted living, where her Cousin Betty lives. Dec.She is hospitalized with pneumonia or bronchitis but recovers and moves into adult foster care home, SE 136th St. Portland.
200016 Feb.Ruth makes it out to dinner with Peter and Linda on her 90th birthday, but refuses to be celebrated or acknowledge the day. 7 Mar.Ruth Janke dies in her foster care room in the presence of son Peter and his wife Linda at age 90.
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