Hiebert, Ruth Doris (1915-1979)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1979 Mar 1 p. 7

Birth date: 1915 Nov 13

Text of obituary:

Death Takes President of Idaho State WCTU

Aberdeen, Ida.—Funeral services were held Feb. 12 at the Aberdeen Mennonite Church for Ruth (Mrs. Henry D.) Hiebert, who died Feb. 9 at the age of 63.

At the time of her death she was president of the Idaho chapter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1979 Mar 29 p. 11

Text of obituary:

RUTH DORIS HIEBERT

Ruth Doris Hiebert was born Nov. 13, 1915, the 13th child of Jacob (Sheep) and Eva Schmidt Hiebert. She died Feb. 9, 1979 at age 63.

She spent her early years in the Hillsboro, Kan. community, attending the Schlehuber Elementary School and graduating in the 1932 class of the Hillsboro Academy. She was baptized May 24, 1931 in the First Mennonite Church, Hillsboro.

On Aug. 5, 1939 she married Henry D. Hiebert and they made their home in the Newport, Wash. community of Spring Valley, where they were members of the Spring Valley Mennonite Church.

There the family engaged in many enterprises: raising chickens and lifestock [sic], logging and clearing land, farming and gardening. She enjoyed traveling with her family and singing, especially singing for the ill at the local hospital.

An involvement she also had was with the Spirit Lake (Ida.) Presbyterian Church as Sunday school teacher and superintendent. In 1950, the Hieberts moved to Aberdeen, Ida. and joined the First Mennonite Church. She was teacher and superintendent in Sunday school and vacation Bible school, and cook at various summer camps.

Another involvement in Aberdeen that became very important to her was the work of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. She was secretary and president of the local unit prior to her election as Idaho State WCTU president in 1972. During her six and one-half years as president, she edited the "Idaho White Ribboner" and attended national and world conventions.

At the same time she wrote news for the "Aberdeen Times," and did various part-time jobs.

As an adult, Ruth was hospitalized for various ailments, including the fusion of discs in her back. During the years of her husband's recovery from undulant fever, much of the burden of supporting the family fell on her. In January 1978 she began to lose her energy and to show signs of the cancer that eventually killed her. Beginning in September she was repeatedly hospitalized and in the final weeks was lovingly cared for at home by her husband. During this period of failing health, the church and friends showed great concern and support for her and her family.

She is survived by her husband; seven children, Eva Marie Klink of Ft. Collins, Colo, Ruth Ann Hiebert of Compton, Alaska, Henry D. Hiebert, Jr., of Denver, Colo., Linda Kaye Sekiguchi of Honolulu, Hawaii, David Ray Hiebert of Scottdale, Pa., Elsie Louise Lamp of Aberdeen, Wash.; Erna Joy Guling Kunard of Blackfoot, Ida.; a brother, Ruben S. Hiebert of North Newton, Kan.; a sister, Esther Lindteigen of Hillsboro, Kan.; and five grandchildren.

Burial was on Feb. 12 at Homestead Cemetery, Aberdeen.