Speer, Ruth Edna Borth (1919-1940)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1940 Sep 25 p. 5

Birth date: 1919

text of obituary:

LOCAL NEWS

. . .

— Relatives here have received word from Winton, Calif., of the sudden death of Mrs. Ruth Broth Spier [sic Speer], formerly of Cheney, Kansas. She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Borth of Cheney, her husband to whom she was married less than a year, and a large circle of relatives and friends. She was a member of the Pretty Prairie Mennonite church. Funeral services were held at Winton on Monday.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1940 Oct 2 p. 6

text of obituary:

Ruth Borth Speer

Ruth Edna Speer, daughter of Ephraim and Clara Borth, was born May 18, 1919; died September 19, 1940, in the Merced hospital, Merced, California, at the age of 21 years, 4 months and 1 day.

She was born near Moundridge, Kansas, and later as a little girl moved to Cheney, Kansas, with her parents.

At the age of eight she was suddenly taken very ill and underwent a major operation which nearly took her life. During that time she definitely gave her heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. At the point of death she lifted her little arms and said, "I see Jesus." It however pleased the Lord to leave her with her parents for a few more years. The days of her convalescence were days of blessing for those about her, for she was a living witness to the goodness of the Lord.

In the months following she memorized innumerable songs, and sang and spoke constantly of her Savior and her desire to serve Him alone. One of her favorite songs throughout the years has been,

"Sitting at the feet of Jesus
Where can mortal be more blest,
There I lay my sins and sorrows,
And when weary, find sweet rest."

In the spring of 1935 she was baptized and received into the First Mennonite church of Pretty Prairie, Kansas, where she remained a member until her death.

In 1938 she came to Atwater, California, where she worked for several months, during which time she came to know Louis Speer. On December 18, 1938, they were united in marriage. They made their home on the Burhack Ranch near Atwater, where he has been employed for a number of years. They had just nine months and one day of happy married life when it pleased the Lord to take her to Him.

She leaves to mourn her early departure: Her deeply bereaved husband, Louis Speer; her father and mother; 3 brothers John and Paul of Winton, California and Tony of Chicago, Ill.; 3 sisters: Linda, Hazel and Dorothy, 2 grandmothers and 1 grandfather. Also a great number of uncles and aunts, cousins and friends.

Ruth had a great love for children and was very happily looking forward to the time of motherhood, but the Lord saw fit to take also her infant son who preceded her a few hours in death.

Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 23, at Winton, Calif.