On the morning of November 20th, with Nate holding her left hand, and Wendi holding her right, she took her final breath...and we wept

 Ruth Lorraine “Rainy” Pearlman

Born September 4th, 1939, just moments before her twin brother Larry arrived, red-headed Rainy blazed into the world with her fiery spirit. A few weeks later, mother Ruth Anderson, with a baby under each arm, relocated from Boise to a fresh new start in Bruneau, Idaho.  Determined to provide for herself and her babies, Ruth worked tirelessly cleaning homes and laundering clothes for members of the community while the twins continued to flourish and were often admired by citizens and neighbors. As Ruth settled into the community, she began attending Saturday night dances at the legion hall, and it was there that she met young Glenn Yates.  After a short courtship, Glenn and Ruth were married and Glenn later adopted two-year-olds Rainy and Larry as his own.  Two years later, little brother Charles, nicknamed Chick, was born and the family of five returned to Boise.  

Rainy and her two brothers attended Boise schools, and when their parents divorced in their pre-teens, downtown Boise became both playground and opportunity for education and responsibility. They became proficient in public transit, toured the historical halls of the state capital, and escaped into the fantasy world of cinema while their mother Ruth worked long hours at the Hotel Boise to support the now family of four. In fact, the Hotel Boise became home base to the three youngsters, and eventually, Rainy Larry, and Chick claimed the Hotel Boise as first jobs on their long and impressive resumes.

 From her early years and long past retirement, Rainy actively participated in life. She learned to play violin before she was able to sign her name in cursive, played softball better than most boys, and, aspiring to dance professionally, Rainy studied under the direction of Lloyd Carlton in his downtown studio three days a week. She was proficient in tap, ballet, and toe, and when she retired from dance, she took those dance skills to a new level, performing water ballet in the summer months and hitting the slopes, or strapping on ice skates in the winter.  Throughout her lifetime Rainy’s response to most things was “yes!” Yes, to water skiing. Yes, to local dance contests. And yes, to horseback riding, hot air balloon rides, cross country road trips, and anything else that challenged her otherwise conservative tendency. 

As a senior at Boise High School, Rainy began a relationship with Delbert Wardle and after her graduation she and Del were engaged and married. In March of 1959 their first daughter, Teri was born.  Tragically, at just one month old, and on Rainy's first wedding anniversary, she awoke to find that her baby girl had passed quietly during the night.  Devastated and feeling very alone in her marriage and in her grief, Rainy put on a grave face and in the fashion in which she had been raised she pushed forward.  A year and a half later, in December of 1960, Wendi was born. By this time, it was clear that her marriage was over and before Wendi’s first birthday Rainy took on the challenge of being a single parent.  Not unlike her mother Ruth, Rainy worked day and night to provide for she and her daughter.  She worked banquets at the Owyhee Hotel duringthe day, and across the street at the Royal Restaurant at night she worked as a Hostess.  Another position she held included “Cigar Girl.”  Just like in the movies, she called out “Cigars? Cigarettes? Cigars? Cigarettes?” and did so donning the customary basket strapped around her neck. And just like in the movies, Rainy looked glamorous and hot as she did!

On a late Spring evening in1964, Rainy and friend Jackie's car broke down and they were stranded on the side of the highway between Boise and Mountain Home. Two airmen came to the rescue, and a few months later, after a short courtship, Rainy and Jeff married in a small chapel in Jeff’s hometown of Daly City, California. The intimate ceremony was attended by her new in-laws, and newly acquired sisters-in-law, Judy and Renie, who would become her lifelong friends.  Ten months later, per 3-year-old Wendi’s request for a baby brother, Nate was born at the Mountain Home Airforce Base Hospital where Jeff was serving out his final year.  Three months later the small family moved from Mountain Home to Daly City, followed by South San Francisco, and then finally back to Boise where they rented, and eventually purchased their 2-bedroom home on Phillippi Street. Phillippi street is where Rainy remained, from 1967 until March of 2025. After 30 years of marriage, Jeff and Rainy divorced in 1994.

Rainy dedicated her life to her family and her community, offering fundraising services to organizations including Easter Seals, Red Cross, the Cancer Society, and Idaho Special Olympics. She served on various boards including President of Boise Boys Baseball and Ada Legion Baseball. Rainy was instrumental in developing mediation in Idaho, being actively involved in Friends of the Court, the Sounding Board, Idaho Mediation Association, and Idaho Women’s Network. It made sense when Rainy’s volunteer experience led to her decision to run for office as House Representative in 1990 and 1992. Although she did not win the majority, her grassroots campaign led to increased citizen education and higher voter turnout. Respected as a professional and as a woman of strength and integrity, Rainy was approached the following election year by members of the opposing party to run against their own incumbent for Ada County Commissioner.  The final outcome was not victorious, but Rainy walked away with 49% of the votes and her head held high knowing she had run an honorable and positive campaign; praised by both Republican and Democratic supporters.

Rainy worked for over 15 years in child support enforcement, beginning with the State of Idaho and ultimately serving as Head of Child Support Enforcement for the Ada County Prosecutors Office.  After her retirement Rainy pinned on a badge, armed herself with mace and went to work as an evening security guard.  Her family laughed at the thought of an offender encountering a 79-year-old grandmother in a dark back alley. Intimidating she was not! Rainy transitioned from security to crossing guard, where she was adored and appreciated by the teachers and students and remained in the position until her hospitalization in February 2025.

Music played an enormous part in Rainy’s life. Her collection of records started with a homemade 75 LP that captured the voices of her brother’s singing “ I don’t want her, you can have her, she’s too fat for me.” Teenage Rainy blasted Glenn Miller Band, Bobbi Darrin, Frankie Vallie, and The Big Bopper. As her tastes matured, Patsy Cline, The Everly Brothers, all things Motown, and the early Beatles became her music of choice.   Her final collection of CD’s included country artists of old and new.   But the artist that was sure to get her up and moving was Bob Seger. Bob Seger would always make her dance!

Rainy was not overly enthusiastic or proficient as a cook, for growing up in our house, kitchen space was not for cooking, but for dancing!  At two, Wendi, Chubby Checker, and Rainy would “do the twist” in the tiny space of their modest apartment. Also in the kitchen, brother and sisters Dan, Julie, and Jana were taught to jitterbug, Nate learned to “two step,” and decades later Chance learned  to country swing.  And from pre-teen to adulthood, Gara, Kaela, and Wendi turned up the energy and the volume, teaching the latest hip hop moves to Grandma Rainy in the then expanded space of the kitchen. There wasn’t a single grand baby, or great grandbaby for that matter, that wasn’t waltzed or spun around Grandma Rainy’s kitchen.  It was in that kitchen that the next generation of dancers were born. Grandma Rainy created memories that were both humorous, and at times delightfully irreverent.  She turned simple moments-scouting for rocks, moving dirt, even scooping poop- into grand adventures to be treasured forever.  And whether it was a dance recital, a school play, soccer match, or baseball game, Grandma Rainy could be counted on as the greatest cheerleader and most distinguishable voice in the audience.

In her late 60’s, Rainy was befriended by Wiley Noe Jr., a family friend of her mother Ruth’s. Through most of Rainy and Larry’s lifetime, they were told their biological father was Ralph Noe, Wiley’s older brother.  Being the only surviving brother, Wiley offered to take the test that would either confirm or dispel the rumors.  A positive test result confirmed that Ralph Noe was Rainy and Larry’s father which led to Rainy’s introduction to her half-brother Lyn Noe.  A treasured relationship developed and flourished over the next decade before Lyn’s untimely death.  Lyn and Wiley were cherished gifts to Rainy and they offered a piece to the puzzle she had longed for decades to complete.

Work, accomplishments, and adventures aside, the most important thing to Rainy was her family. Rainy is survived by her children Wendi Adams (Scott) and Nate Pearlman (Shelly); grandchildren Gara McCutchen (Joe Aragon), Chance Covillon (Jaycie Stone), Jake Pearlman, Joe Pearlman, Jeff Morse, Meagan Simpson (Brandon), Jordan Bocox (Greg);  great-grandchildren Eathan, Katelyn, Christian, Stella, Hadlee, Brynlee, Camden, Mason, Portrr, Victoria, Munroe, Lydia, and Everette. She is also survived by twin brother Larry Yates (Shelly), brothers Chick Yates, and Dan Thomas (Diane), and sisters Julie Thomas and Jana Thomas (Bill Kuzlik), and her special friend and love Wayne Frazier. She was preceded in death by mother Ruth Thomas, fathers Eddie Thomas, Glen Yates, and Ralph Noe, and sister-in-law Karen Yates. Her infant daughter Teri Louise Wardle, and granddaughter Kaela McCutchen also preceded her.

Though Rainy was not particularly extraverted, she made lifelong friends who were special and significant throughout all chapters of her life. Bonnie Liles, Barbara Higgins, Sharon Lawrence, Suzanne Blackham, Roseanne Keopke, Kam Hubsmith, and Lisa Cline.  All were valued deeply and made indelible marks on Rainy’s life.

A special thank you to Loving Embrace Memory Care in Star, ID. Danielle, Anna, Nicki, Jocelyn, Dawn, and Lexyie loved on Rainy and provided respect, laughter, and kindness over the 10 months she remained in their care.  Rainy could be heard yelling out to each as they left their shifts for the day, “I miss you already!”  Mom, Grandma, Rainy…. we miss you already.

In the final months before her passing, Rainy’s world as she had known it drastically changed.  When the sudden decline of her memory forced her to move from her home, and her once treasured independence became limited, she resisted with the precocious tenacity and spirit that assisted her throughout her lifetime.  To say it was difficult and scary would be an understatement.  But, with the reassurance from her children, visits from her grandchildren and siblings, and the kindness of her caregivers Rainy had reached a place of peace.  Her latest frequent request, prompted by weekly visits from church singers, was to receive a new tattoo.  While we laughed at the thought of her bruised and frail body being punctured and inked, we were comforted to know where she was in her heart.  In our minds, her final tattoo request, delicately engraved on her forearm reads “It is well with my soul.” To this, we too found peace.

A memorial celebration and reception will be held Friday, February 20th at 2:30 PM at The Mint Barn in Nampa, Idaho; graciously offered by Kelly and Brenda Fulfer.  Please join us in sharing stories and memories and to celebrate Rainy’s wonderful life.