Rutledge Family Scholarship

For the Rutledge family, lifelong learning is a value that has guided and shaped their family for several generations. Helen Rutledge appreciated education tremendously and encouraged everyone to expand their education. In fact, she and her husband, Clyde, encouraged their daughters, Sharon, Susan, Sandy, and Sally, to all become teachers. Helen's Swedish immigrant parents raised nine children on a homestead near Enumclaw, Washington. She attended Washington State University in 1925, but returned to Seattle to help pay the family mortgage.

Her husband’s family homesteaded in the Cascade, Idaho, area where they had moved from Illinois. Clyde was one of eleven children. Coincidently, Clyde attended the University of Idaho during 1925 also. Helen and Clyde met in Seattle in 1930 when Clyde was driving a truck for Union Oil Company. They moved to Boise in 1936 where he joined his brothers in operating a roofing business. Clyde was an excellent horseman who trained Appaloosa mustangs from the Owyhee range. This hobby provided his four daughters and one son the varied delights of horses, which included trail rides, rodeo competition, and racing.

Helen resumed her stenographer career in 1956 when her daughter Sharon began her musical education at Willamette University. Sharon graduated from the University of Washington in 1960 and taught English for a few years. Later, she taught piano in her home for twenty years. Susan (’62), Sandy (’65), and Sally (’67) all graduated from the University of Idaho and later completed master’s degrees. Jess Rutledge, Helen and Clyde’s son, attended Boise State University, joined the Marines, trained racehorses in the East, and has retired in Boise.

Their daughter Sally taught fourth grade in the Meridian School District for 30 years and instilled her love of Idaho history in her students. When traveling, she was know to stop to read each historical signpost she passed in the state. Following the legacy of teaching in her family, their daughter Susan (Hill) also taught math in several locations, as she moved with her husband, Jon, who was in the U.S. Marine Corp. She retired from Boise State University as director of academic skills in the technology department. Susan's daughter, Helen, graduated from the University of Idaho in 1987, and met her husband, Steve Hagen ('87, '92), on campus. Sandy (Lancaster) taught special education in several states as she moved with her husband, who was with the U.S. Forest Service. She worked as a consulting teacher and a school psychologist for 20 years in the Treasure Valley. In June 2008, Sally passed away.

As part of Sally’s legacy in her will, she gave $10,000 as a scholarship to the University of Idaho, establishing the Rutledge Family Scholarship. After donations from individuals, Sandy was able to endow Sally's scholarship. The first scholarship to elementary education majors with junior or senior standing will be awarded for Fall 2009.

The Rutledge family gift to the College of Education is invaluable. Not only does the family's legacy live on with each student who receives their gift, the scholarship enables more students to pursue their dream of education.