Barbara Lynn Stover Rutt was born April 23, 1954 in Colfax, Washington to Alice Morasch and Dale Stover. She passed away on April 11, 2008 in her parent's home in Endicott, WA of a heart attack. She was the second child of 3 children; her siblings were Fred and Diane.

She grew up in Colfax and Endicott and graduated from Endicott High School in 1972 and Eastern Washington University with a BA in education in 1976. She taught in Colfax at Jennings Elementary School, Arco, Idaho at Howe Elementary School, Berney Elementary School in Walla Walla and Ruth Livingston Elementary in Pasco, WA. She met her husband Matt Rutt in Colfax, who was a deputy prosecutor in Whitman County. They met on a blind date arranged by a student’s mother. They eloped June 1, 1991 to Coeur d' Alene. Her elopement caused her to miss the high school ceremony that she was being honored at. The graduating class was her former first grade class and it had just completed the 12th grade. They forgot to tell her about the ceremony and she received the plaque when she returned from her honeymoon. Miss Stover always came to every graduation.

She next moved to Walla Walla and taught 4th grade at Berney School while her husband was a deputy prosecutor for Walla Walla County. Their son Matthew Frederick was born at St. Mary's Hospital May 3, 1995. She devoted her love and life to the two Matthews and her students.

She moved to Richland in 1997 and taught at Ruth Livingston Elementary School in Pasco. Once again her students who achieved high scores on the W ASL test were her pride and joy.

She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colfax and was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Pasco at the time of her passing. An Endicott classmate and dear friend Pastor John Hergert was her spiritual advisor in Pasco.

She was very proud of her Germans from Russia heritage and was the family historian. She kept track of her many uncles, aunts and cousins and her cousins' children. She was an avid basketball fan. She watched her Uncle Bob Bafus, Colfax, a basketball coach who is a member of the High School Coaches Hall of Fame, have the longest winning streak in Colfax history. She was a Cheerleader and Class president. Barbara enjoyed local theatre and performed in the Sound of Music. She was an EMT. She loved trips to the Oregon Coast, fishing, that she learned from her Dad and brother Fred, walking her boxer dog Ophelia along the Columbia River, looking for antiques, testing perfumes, jewelry, and shopping and shopping. She loved cooking and if it tasted good, it was of course good for you. The blankets she made for special people and family dinners were all part of our memories. She was a peacemaker extraordinary. All trial attorneys should have a Barbara to come home to at night and have a cheery, ''Hi honey, how was your day? She was busy but cherished the time with her family.

One of her proudest moments was watching her son pitch 2 no-hitter games in Richland Little League while being Team Mother. She was also was proud of being present when her husband was sworn in to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington D.C. in 1991, a month after they were married.. But she was proudest of her son Matthew's scholastic achievement of making the principal's list at Carmichael Middle School-- the same school his Dad had attended and had also made the principal's list.

Barbara was a dedicated and concerned teacher who inspired many students and continues to hear from them today. Many have become teachers themselves. She spread her love of education to her large family and friends. She was her students’ greatest advocate and friend.

Surviving her passing are her parents, Dale and Alice Morasch Stover; Brother Fred Stover Cindy, Spokane, Ryan, Gloria, Jessica, Ashley and Bethany; Sister, Diane Mike Repp,Kate, Kimberly & Oliver, Auburn; Aunts- Lucille Morasch Christopher, Walla Walla, Bob and Ruth Morasch Bafus, Colfax, Floyd and Joyce Hamilton, Endicott; Mother-in-law, Mable Rutt, Richland; Sister-in-law Mollie Rutt, Richland; Cousins Kenneth and Raymond Getz, David, Laura DeYoung and John Getz, Julie Doug Wick, Christopher, Eric, Angie and Jackson; Jason Stephanie, Lukas, & Luis Scott Kim Morasch, Christy and Blake, Walla Walla; Dave Patty Vargas, Stacy, Christy, Joe and Adam, Walla Walla; Nancy Sue Lesso, Mississippi; Byron, David and Cathy Hamilton and more we may have inadvertently omitted.

Preceding her in death were her Uncles Adam Jr., Walter, Clyde, Randall and Raymond Morasch; Aunts Margaret, Esther and Leah Morasch; Grandparents Mary and Adam V. Morasch, Fred and Althea Stover; Father-in-law Fred Rutt, Richland

She once said, she was related to half of Whitman County and had taught the rest.

Also Surviving are Matthew's God Parents, Jeff and Sandy Otis, Spokane, and special friends, Penny, Karen, Brenda and Mo.

Services will be held at Richland Lutheran Church, 901 Van Giesen, Richland, Saturday, April 19th at 2:00 p.m. Pastor John Hergert will officiate. Viewing will be 5:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Einan's funeral home, 915 By-Pass Highway, Richland. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Benton City, Wash, next to her father-in-law, Fred Rutt, who dearly loved this little German daughter-in-law.

Those wishing to honor her memory may contribute to the First Lutheran Church of Pasco or the Washington Education Association.