Ruth Elizabeth Miller
HESSTON - Ruth Elizabeth
Miller, 93, passed away Wednesday (Oct. 18, 2006) at Schowalter Villa in
Hesston.
She was born on Dec. 9, 1912,
in Brandon, Colo., to Andrew J. and Fannie Troyer Stutzman, the seventh of
eight children. Her parents moved to Crystal Springs in Harper County in 1913.
She was married on Nov. 28, 1935, to Norman Miller, who passed away in 1990.
Ruth attended the Hebron
Grade School and graduated with the highest grades in Harper County. Her
lifelong regret was she was unable to attend high school because she was needed
at home to help take care of two ailing grandparents. She was content as a
homemaker, wife and mother. She compensated for her lack of formal education by
seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ through daily Bible study alone
and in small groups. She was active in the Crystal Springs Mennonite Church
through teaching Sunday and Bible school and quilting with the Women's
Missionary Society. She sang in quartets and trios throughout the years at
funerals and other church functions.
Ruth and Norman moved to
independent living at Schowalter Villa in October 1987. Ruth enjoyed making new
friends, as well as getting involved in volunteer opportunities, such as
singing and quilting. She was Volunteer of the Year in 1997. She was in charge
of the quilting activity at the Villa for many years until her health didn't
allow her to continue. At that time she said, "If I can't quilt, I have
nothing to live for."
Ruth was a friend to everyone
but especially to anyone on the fringe or who was a little bit different. She
treated everyone as she would like to be treated. She enjoyed cooking and
entertaining. Everyone felt welcome in her home. She was a prayer warrior; her
prayers have been sorely missed by her children in the last years of her
illness.
Survivors include: one
daughter, Margaret and Harold Winsinger of Topeka; sons, Larry Miller of
Harper, and Keith and Lois Miller of Newburgh, Ind.; four grandchildren, Brenda
and Bruce Eitzen of Hesston, Randy and Christy Winsinger of Topeka, Brad Miller
of Indianapolis, and David and Lindsay Miller of Granger, Ind., and seven
great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to
8 p.m. Sunday at Miller Funeral Home in Hesston. The celebration of her life
will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Schowalter Villa Chapel in Hesston with Pastor
Cheryl Hershberger and Chaplain Beverly Baumgartner officiating. A graveside
service and burial will take place at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Crystal Springs
Mennonite Cemetery near Harper.
Memorials have been
established with Schowalter Villa Samaritan Fund and Hospice Care of Kansas, in
care of the funeral home.
