Obituary of Ruth Peters

PETERS Mrs. Ruth Elizabeth, age 82, passed away on Thursday,December 23, 2010 at the Gull Lake Special Care Centre after a courageous andvaliant battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The eldest daughter born to Sam and Lena Klein on December25, 1927, Ruth was raised in the Piapot district along with her eightsiblings. She attended Last Chance andLynn Grove schools and graduated from Maple Creek High School with honors in1947. With a passion for teaching andonly two months summer training at Normal School in Moose Jaw, Ruth launchedher career in education at Garden Head School. She also taught at Antelope, Sidewood, Verlo and Hazlet schools. Ruth made it a priority to treat each of herstudents as individuals and focused on their special strengths. In 1974 she became a spare school bus driverand then drove full time from 1975 to 1981. On July 27, 1951 Ruth married Ernest Peters and theyresided on the family farm at Verlo where they raised five children. Ruth’s interests and achievements were manyand varied. She was driven to do her best at everything she did and her passions included poetry, sewing, gardening,cooking and baking. Her grandchildrenespecially appreciated her skills when it came to her chocolate chipcookies. Life on the farm was very busybut Ruth was still generous with her community service. She was a member of the Verlo Ladies SocialClub and the Hazlet Historical Society; served on the Gull Lake Division Boardof Education from 1983 to 1988 and the Sand Hills Home Care Association from1991 to 1994. One special highlight ofher community spirit was assisting with the Verlo Cairn Project. After her husband Ernie passed away, Ruth stayed on thefarm for one year and then made a new home for herself in Gull Lake in Octoberof 1996. She was active in everythingthat came along with the town lifestyle. Ruth joined the Rebekah’s, Senior’s, Senior’s Taxi, delivered Meals onWheels and volunteered at the Museum. She enjoyed bingo, cards, Friday evening dances and coffee row. Her life took on a whole new meaning whengranddaughter Brenlyn was born and she was able to baby sit. Ruth’s health failed rapidly after a fall in July of 2009and she was no longer able to live on her own. After a month at the Gull Lake Special Care Centre she lived at AutumnHouse for a short while and then Cabri and Leader Special Care Centres finallyacquiring a permanent bed back in Gull Lake in February of 2010. While the advances of Alzheimer’s diseasedeprived her of many things, it never took away her willpower or determination. Ruth was predeceased by her parents Sam and Lena Klein,husband Ernest Peters, granddaughter Lonnette Butts, sister Ruby Agnes Klein,brothers Harry and Lester Klein, nieces Debbie Klein and Marilyn Klein, nephewRonald Peters and numerous in-laws. Sheis survived by her children Dwayne (Jane), Karen (Ken), Vicki, Charlene (Gregg)and Lynnette (Lonny); grandchildren Darius (Paula), Dustin, Janelle (Chris),Natasha, Chelsea (Brenden), Chad, Toni (Lonnie), Travis, Ashlee, Breann andBrenlyn; great-grandchildren Connor, Owen, Anika and Madison; brothers John(Doris), Bill (Marlaine); sisters Elsie (Len), Florence and Marie (Dick) aswell as numerous nieces and nephews. Amajor link in our family chain is gone, but we have many special memories tohold on to. Funeral Service was held on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at2:00 in The Knox United Church in Gull Lake, SK, with Reverend. Bev Diduck andCarola Anderson officiating. If friendsso desire, memorial tributes may be made to the Gull Lake Special Care CentreAuxiliary, The Alzheimer Society or the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements were entrusted toParkside Memorial Funeral Home in Swift Current. For further information or tosign the family book of condolence visit parksidefuneraslhome.com.