Ruth, Alma K. (1882-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Mar 18 p. 8

Birth date: 1882 Sep 24

Text of obituary:

. . .

— Miss Alma K. Ruth, 88, died suddenly last Saturday at her home in Halstead. She was a native of Summerfield, Ill. and moved to Halstead in 1913 from Garden Township. She was a member of the First Mennonite Church of Halstead, and the funeral was held there Wednesday afternoon with Dr. D. C. Wedel and Rev. Donald Classen officiating. Miss Ruth leaves no known survivors.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1971 Mar 30 p. 220

Text of obituary:

Alma K. Ruth, First Church, Halstead, Kan., was born Sept. 24, 1882, in Summerfield, Ill., and died Mar. 13.

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Newton Kansan obituary: 1971 Mar 15

Text of obituary:

Alma K. Ruth

HALSTEAD — Alma K. Ruth, 88, a resident of Halstead for 58 years, died suddenly Saturday at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Wednesday at 1st Mennonite Church. Dr. D. C. Wedel and the Rev. Donald Classen will officiate and burial will be in Halstead Cemetery.

Calling time will be after 2 p. m. Tuesday at Kaufman Funeral Home.

Miss Ruth was born Sept. 24, 1882 in Summerfield, Ill., and moved to Halstead in 1913 from Garden Township.

There are no immediate survivors.

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Halstead Independent obituary: 1971 Mar 25 p. 10

Text of obituary:

ALMA K. RUTH

IN MEMORIUM (sic)

Alma K. Ruth, daughter of Henry G. and Maria Hirschler Ruth was born September 24, 1882, at Summerfield, Illinois. The family moved to Garden Township, Harvey County shortly thereafter. She grew up there, attending country school at District 78, and church school under the late Rev. S. S. Baumgartner of the Garden Mennonite church where she was baptized when 16. She later attended Bethel College for a time, and also studied dressmaking under Mrs. Chas. Bessemer, Sr. in Newton.

Alma early showed exceptional talent in music, and played the flute in the little country community orchestra under her father's direction. She was especially gifted in interpreting music for the reed organ and was church organist at the Garden Church, and later at the Halstead Mennonite Church for 36 years.

In 1913 Alma and her sister Edna L. with her parents, moved to Halstead. In her home there she was an important part of the family music ensemble made up of Edna L., violin, her niece, Ruth, piano — sometimes adding voice, and at times flute or cello. Like the rest of the Ruths, she sang well, had a firm warm alto voice. She, with her sister, often helped to mother nieces and nephews, or other children who needed extended care. For many years she continued to be active in church, Sunday-school, Christian Endeavor, and Mission circles; was faithful in attending church, and enjoyed visiting the sick and the shut-in. By nature she was not assertive, sometimes almost timid, but always interested in everything around her. Together with her family, she was an eager student of amateur ornithology, and was the recorder on birding expeditions. She was an excellent and inventive cook, a meticulous housekeeper, and had a green thumb in the garden.

Alma continued to be active, out-going, uncomplaining and cheerful until her final afternoon when she died at her home Saturday, March 13, 1971 of a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Her philosophy might be summed up in the lines she penned in a little black notebook on her bedside table: "Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it," a quote by Edward Bok.

Surviving her is her niece, Ruth Rose of the home, Edgar A. Ruth, nephew, of Seattle, Mrs. Elmer D. Ruth, sister-in-law, of Halstead Nursing Center, Harold Ruth, nephew, of Billings, Montana, Mrs. Ada Ruth, niece, of Shawnee Mission, Mrs. Homer G. Ruth, sister-in-law of Newton, Mrs. Elinor Ewy, niece, Emry Ruth, nephew, of Wichita, Mrs. Maxine Ruth Fast, niece of Moundridge, in addition to 14 great-nephews and nieces, and six great-great-nieces and nephews.

Services for Miss Ruth were held Wednesday afternoon, March 17, at the First Mennonite Church, with Dr. D. C. Wedel and Mr. Donald Classen officiating, and Mrs. Milton Ewy at the organ. Burial was in the Halstead Cemetery under the direction of the Kaufman Funeral Home. After the service, friends and relatives returned to the home for coffee.

Among the friends and relatives were the Emry Ruths and Jay Raymond, Mrs. Earlanna Briggs, the Missies (sic) Louise Watson and Margerie Marshall from Wichita; Mrs. Homer G. Ruth, Mrs. John F. Moyer, Mrs. Martha Dyck, Mrs. Mary Vetter, Clark Miller, George Matthies and William P. Schowalter of Newton; Miss Virginia Harris and Mrs. Bertha Beam of McPherson; the Earl Whites and Mrs. Harvey Vogt from Hesston; the Orlando Fasts, Barbara, Arlen, Russel; the Misses Anna B. Rupp, Ruth Vogt, Alice A. and Leona Krehbiel from Moundridge; the Milton Ewys and Howard, and many others from the Halstead area.