Ruth Unger

Ruth Goossen was born on August 12, 1930 to Franz D. and Anna Goossen in Oakley, Kansas. She grew up on the family farm near Mingo, where she raised her very own lamb by the name of Max. This sheep would only come if Ruth called it. There was a certain well in the middle of the 160 acre farm where she experienced the presence of the Lord and Jesus called her by name; she said, “Yes” to Him.

Her father designed and built the Meadow Mennonite Church in Mingo, where she attended faithfully until she moved to North Newton, Kansas to attend Bethel College. There, she graduated with a BA. At college she met a dashing young man from Canada, George Unger. They married on August 16, 1953 and moved to George’s home on Peardonville Rd. in Abbotsford where his mother lived in a separate suite. At home they spoke Low German (Plautdiesch) but Ruth soon learned High German as well.

Before the children came along she taught basketball and typing at the MEI and was secretary to the president. On March 19, 1957 Marcus was born; then Esther on June 9, 1959, and Nathan on September 24, 1960. At that moment, Ruth died and went to heaven. Jesus asked her if she wanted to stay there with Him. She said, “That would be very nice but who would take care of my three children? George has to go to work every day.” So the Lord granted her more time on earth. Eventually a new house was built on the Peardonville property, and they moved in, in the summer of 1962. They welcomed daughter Lois on October 23, 1964 and then Peter on September 10, 1967.

In 1970, Jesus called her again, “Seek My Face.” Her response was, “Yes, Lord, I will.” She experienced the wonderful baptism of the Holy Spirit. Ruth and George then opened their home to young people for weekly meetings, where hundreds gave their hearts to Jesus.

Music was an integral part of Ruth’s life. She encouraged all her five children to practice piano; her husband George was a piano teacher and had up to sixty students. Pretty soon, the piano playing filled the house, upstairs and downstairs.

The children grew up and got married and started their own families. Ruth continued raising vegetables and flowers of all kinds, especially dahlias. She created beautiful flower arrangements. Ruth was also a prolific seamstress. She once sewed 1200 boys’ shirts for an orphanage in India. Their home was always open. People came from all over for a word of encouragement, and some of Ruth's delicious home cooking.

In 2014, she lost her balance and broke her hip. The next year she and George moved to The Mayfair. On December 18, 2019 she was admitted to Abbotsford Hospital with pneumonia and, after seven days of treatment, was well enough to return to The Mayfair. On March 12, 2020 at 6:00 am, she met her Saviour, Jesus, for her eternal reward.

Ruth is survived by her husband, George; her children: Marcus and Cathy (Los), Esther and Jonathan Keller, Nathan and Lesley (Klaassen), Lois and Randy Voth, Peter and Darlene (Klassen); and her eight grandchildren: Daniel, Aliyah, Matthew, Jayna, Shoshanna, Elise, Ann and Lily. She is also survived by her sister, Leona Saltzman, and brother Levi Goossen.

A special thank you to The Mayfair staff for their wonderful care.