ushered into the presence of her Lord on May 18, 2020 in Fresno, CA.
Born on October 28, 1929 in Butler County, Allison, Iowa, the daughter of
Heiko and Bernice (Hook). Ruth grew up amongst a large extended family with 14 aunts
and uncles and 16 cousins. She graduated from Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls,
Iowa with her lifelong friend, Shirley Wirkler, taking her first teaching job in Shell Rock, Iowa.
Ruth had a natural curiosity and love for reading and books that led to a Master’s Degree in
Library Science from the University of Colorado in Denver and moved to Fresno, California
as a librarian at Fresno State University. In December 1964 she joined the San Diego State
College library staff as an assistant catalog librarian. Over the next 30 years she helped
transform the library system at San Diego State University from microfilm to online digital
books and periodicals. As the head librarian at SDSU, Ruth was instrumental in curating
the more than 30,000 rare books, manuscripts, artifacts within the Special Collections
University Archives, alongside with the Friends of the Library, in addition to promoting
intercultural events on campus such as Freedom Arts Festival. Upon retiring in 1992,
Ruth stayed active as a member of the Society of California Archivists, San Carlos Garden
Club and supported many San Diego foundations including Mission Trails Regional Park.
Throughout her life, Ruth enjoyed gardening, music and playing the piano, visiting other
countries, experiencing the different culture, food and language, all the while taking
photos to share with her family and friends back home. She shared many vacations with
her nieces and nephew and friends throughout California and the national parks, hiking
and camping, and she especially enjoyed playing tour guide to her favorite landmarks in
her adopted hometown of San Diego. Ruth has been a faithful servant of the Lord and
a member of San Diego Gospel Hall and Fresno Gospel Hall for more than 60 years.
Proceeded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brother, Robert; three nieces
Susan (Rick) Hemb of Sanger CA, Cindy (Bob) Salstone of Phoenix AZ, Sharon (Joel) Aguilar
of Fresno CA; nephew John (Sandy) Leerhoff of Marysville WA; three great nieces Crystal
(Trey) Hemb Hodges of Clovis CA, Alexandra (Matt) Leerhoff Green of Queensland
Australia, Savannah Aguilar of Fresno CA; four great nephews Joshua, Justin and Jenkin
Leerhoff of Marysville WA and Solomon Aguilar of Fresno CA.
Visitation services will be 4:00 pm Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at Lisle Funeral Home in
Fresno California with limited attendance due to the Covid-19 restrictions. Her body will
be transported on Friday, May 29, 2020 to El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego for burial.
Donations to honor and celebrate Ruth’s life and memory may be made to the Friends of
the Library-San Diego County Library, Truth & Tidings Gospel Trust and/or Our Daily Bread
Ministries..
FAMILY
Susan HembNiece
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5