Ruth Elizabeth (Unrau) Schmidt
Obituary
Ruth (Unrau) Schmidt, 96, died on
Monday (Aug. 29, 2016) at Newton Medical Center. She was born on Aug.
19, 1920, to David and Marie (Balzer) Unrau at their home east of
Inman.
Ruth attended a country school, Blaze
Fork, for eight years and then Inman High School, graduating
valedictorian of the Class of 1938. She attended Bethel College for
two years, obtained a teaching certificate, and taught for two years
at Emmenthal School, a one-room school in Marion County. During that
time, Ruth was involved with Tabor Mennonite Church as a pianist and
choir director and met Art Schmidt while there. They married on June
3, 1942, and celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary with family
this past June.
Together, Art and Ruth operated a small
grain and dairy operation. With her gentle touch, Ruth was
particularly skilled at milking the cows. While raising their
children, Ruth continued her involvement with church music and Sunday
School, EHU and the Bethel College Parents' Association.
Ruth loved sewing and made many of her
own clothes, as well as her children's. Her children and
grandchildren remember her as a skilled baker and good cook; she
carefully organized and prepared many holiday dinners over the years.
In the 1970s and 80s, Art and Ruth were
foster parents to about a dozen children and youth through several
agencies, as well as through informal channels. They also hosted a
Bethel College student from a big city, offering a month-long,
cross-cultural learning experience on their farm.
In retirement, Ruth volunteered with
the Newton schools at South Breeze, Slate Creek and Walton Rural Life
Center, where her own children had attended. She was also a regular
election poll worker and a long-time volunteer with the Newton Et
Cetera Shop and RSVP.
Along with Art, Ruth was active in
various social groups including the Walton Red Hat Society, the Over
Forty Club (all members were eventually over 80 years), a square
dance club and the informal coffee gathering at the Whistle Stop Café
in Walton.
Ruth was preceded in death by her
parents and her siblings, Norma (Elmer) Suderman, Delia (Gordon) Dyck
and Paul (who died at the age of four); a daughter, Elaine (Verlin)
Bartel; a stillborn son, George Alan; and a stillborn grandson, Alan
Matthies Schmidt.
Survivors include husband Arthur A.
Schmidt of North Newton; brother-in-law Gordon Dyck of Estes Park,
Colorado; son-in-law Verlin Bartel of Kansas City; son Archie
(Kristin) Schmidt of Peabody; daughter Ada (Wes) Schmidt-Tieszen of
Newton; grandchildren Heather (David) Bradford of Ottumwa, Iowa,
Olivia Bartel of Murdock, Jody Schmidt of Chicago, Luke (Sarah)
Schmidt of College Station, Texas, Katy Schmidt of Peabody, Tina
(Dan) Graber of Freeman, South Dakota, and Alison Schmidt-Tieszen of
Denver; and great-grandchildren Anna and Isaac Bradford of Ottumwa,
Iowa, and Adaline Graber of Freeman, South Dakota.
A Celebration of Life service will be
at 3 p.m. on Sunday (Sept. 4, 2016) at Tabor Mennonite Church,
Newton.
Visitation with family is 3:30 to 5
p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 3, 2016) in Menno Hall at Kidron Bethel
Retirement Village, North Newton.
Memorials may be designated in Ruth's
memory to Bethel College or Mennonite Central Committee.
