Keyser, Alma K. Ruth (1920-2005)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Dec 12 p. 11

Birth date: 1920 Oct 22

text of obituary:

ALMA K. KEYSER

Alma K. Keyser, 85, of Souderton, Pa., died Nov. 19, 2005, in the skilled nursing unit of Souderton Mennonite Home. She was born Oct. 22, 1920, to Melvin H. and Sallie (Koffel) Ruth.

Her mother died within a few weeks of her birth, and at the age of five weeks she went to live with and became the adopted daughter of Nathan and Anna Mary Keyser.

She graduated from Souderton High School in 1938 and continued her education by attending Lansdale School of Business. She became a skilled typist. After her schooling she honed her skills in office support at the National Farm School of Business in Doylestown and Terry Mills in Souderton.

In 1952, she became part of the Brunk Evangelistic Team for seven years, where in addition to her clerical expertise she demonstrated her driving skills as she pulled the Brunk team mobile homes throughout the U.S. and Canada. Upon her return, she and Ella Ruth began sharing an apartment in Harleysville, and she joined the transcribing department of Harleysville Insurance, where she spent the next 23 years until retirement in 1982.

She was baptized Jan. 22, 1939, at Franconia Mennonite Church. In 1994 she answered the call to help in the ministry of the Spring Mount Mennonite congregation and served many years as a Sunday school teacher. Upon moving to Telford, she became an active member of Rockhill Mennonite Church.

She enjoyed travel, singing and embroidery work, completing and donating several quilt tops for fund-raising causes.

She and Ella Ruth moved into an apartment at the Souderton Mennonite Home community in 1993.

Survivors include a sister, Esther Landes, and a brother, Jacob Ruth, both of Sellersville; a stepbrother, Melvin Ruth of Souderton; and longtime housemate and caregiver, Ella Ruth of Souderton.

Two sisters, Sara Landes and Lydia Gross, preceded her in death. Services were held in the chapel of Souderton Mennonite Home.