Norma Bartel Klassen Ruff
Norma Bartel Klassen Ruff, beloved
daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother,
passed away peacefully Feb. 16, 2016, in Kansas City five days shy of
her 99th birthday. The loss of this cherished matriarch is grieved by
a large community of family and friends.
Born Norma Esther Bartel to Leonard F.
Bartel and Emelia Schroeder Bartel, Norma was raised on their farm
near Hillsboro with her two sisters, Lenora (Neufeld) and Betty
(Jost), and brother Carl Bartel. Norma is survived by her sister
Betty with whom she remained best friends and confidante, the two
sharing nightly phone calls throughout her last years.
She met the love of her life Theodore
(Ted) Klassen near Hillsboro. They were married on July 17, 1938. Ted
was a school teacher, then became a mortician and worked at Moody's
Funeral Home (now Peterson's) before he and Norma established their
own in Buhler. He served in a hospital unit in WWII, and finally
accomplished his lifelong goal of becoming a medical professional by
establishing a dental practice in Newton in 1949. This enabled Norma
and Ted to make many friends with whom Norma kept in touch much of
her life.
Norma is survived by the three children
that she and Dr. Ted Klassen so lovingly reared. Wayne Klassen, a
retired businessman, currently resides in Mesa, Arizona, with his
wife Shirley. Daughter Joyce Salisbury, a retired school
administrator, lives in Santa Cruz, California, with Gordon, her
husband of 45 years. Darla Drosselmeyer, in the last year of her
distinguished career as a teacher, lives in Shawnee with her husband
Bob, whom she married in 1974.
Her children blessed her with numerous
grandchildren: Bryant Klassen-Gregory (Kris), Kristi Klassen-Box,
Dylan Salisbury (Grace), Rachel Drosselmeyer Johnson (Justin) and
Lindsay Drosselmeyer Mitchell (Jonathan). In turn, Norma is also
survived by eight biological great grandchildren, Faith, Joy, Andrew,
Ashley, Chloe, Chance, Wes, Johnny and Rowen, who is due to arrive
any minute as her 10th.
Along with her sister Betty, Norma is
also survived by several nieces, grandnieces, nephews and
grandnephews from both Ted and her side of their families.
After Dr. Ted Klassen's untimely death
in 1967, Norma worked as a medical business administrator in Newton
for several years. In 1974, Norma met, fell in love with and married
Ret. Lt. Col. Herman Ruff. Herman's family welcomed her into their
family and together they enjoyed many years of life, including
traveling abroad and spending time with his children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. Herman passed away in January of 1997. His
children Donna Jane Mackay and Michael Ruff and some of their
children remained in touch with Norma until her death.
On one serendipitous day in March of
2000, Norma ran into Jim Peters of Hillsboro, who had been a high
school sweetheart. They instantly renewed their special relationship
and enjoyed many adventures, including extensive travel with Jim's
son Mike and daughter-in-law Sharon for the next 10 years prior to
Jim's death. Jim's children Tom (and spouse Carole) and Dana (and son
Adam), kept in close touch with Norma until her death.
Norma's life was characterized and
memorialized by her art. She loved to sew, but she was more than a
seamstress. She had the skills of a trained tailor. She hand-made a
3-piece suit of beautiful English-imported wool for Ted to wear at
his graduation from Kansas City Dental School. She made tailored
suits and dresses for Joyce and Darla throughout their youth. She
even enjoyed sewing clothes for granddaughters Lindsay and Rachel as
babies and children.
Norma's skill as an artist also
extended to ceramics, and especially the creation of porcelain dolls.
She would cast the parts for the dolls in porcelain, assemble and
paint them, then tailor beautiful elaborate costumes for the dolls.
Over a period of approximately 20 years, Norma made made more than
100 dolls, which are now considered classics. She joked that she sold
a few, just because "it was good for my ego." Most of the
dolls are in the possession of family and friends.
Norma's life was also characterized by
community service. She was an active member of the Newton Lioness
Club, Twentieth Century Club, American Legion and the Newton Arts
Club.
Additionally, while living in Newton
she was a devoted member of the Salem United Methodist Church. She
taught Sunday School. She was a Primary Superintendent and a member
of both the church's Administrative Board, and of the Pastor Parish
Committee. She and Ted were Youth Fellowship Sponsors for many years.
She also held offices in the United Methodist Women's Organization.
Before Herman's death Norma became
active with the Newton Hospice program, now named the Harry Hynes
Memorial Hospice. There she met Carole and Bob Hull who became and
remained close friends with her until death. Carole will officiate as
ordained minister for Norma's internment and memorial on March 5.
Norma took special pride in the fact
that she and Ted literally built their own home at 820 South Pine in
Newton. With help from 4th-grader Wayne and 2nd-grader Joyce, she
installed the insulation after the house had been framed. Ted and she
did all the finishing woodwork, dry wall, papering and painting of
the house, inside and out.
Despite her significant vision loss,
Norma spent the last three years at Brookdale Rosehill Assisted
Living in Shawnee, earning the title of unofficial new-resident
greeter and friend. She was loved and admired by everyone. Norma's
final seven days were spent at the Kansas City Hospice House, where
her comfort and needs, and those of her family, were so well met and
nurtured.
The message that she wanted her
children to send to the world at the time of her passing was: "Love
is the strongest force in the world, and it is one of the few things
you can give away and gain more than you had."
All who knew and loved Norma are
invited to her internment at Greenwood Cemetery at 10 a.m. March 5,
2016, and to her Memorial commencing at 11 a.m. at Peterson's Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a
donation to the Foundation Fighting Blindness
(http://www.blindness.org/ ), or an email with your recollections of
Norma (which will be displayed and shared in a book at her memorial)
sent to: joycesalisbury @gmail.com. Petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com.