Ruth Juetersonke Lense

Ruth was born on 24 July 1932, in Heinzendorf in the district Wohlau-Schlesien, Germany. She married Hans Eberhard Juetersonke, the love of her life, in 1953 in Bad Lippspringe, Germany. That August, they left their families and made their way to the United States, having borrowed $500 for the ocean passage. With only the clothes on their back and no knowledge of English, they made their way to Libertyville, Illinois.

Hans was employed as a tool and die maker and Ruth worked odd jobs. They soon had two children, George and Barbara. Over the ensuing years, Ruth and Hans were very proud to become United States citizens. Ruth loved being a mother and was an outstanding baker and cook. She and Hans loved entertaining family and friends. Several family trips were made to Germany to visit parents and siblings. Family from Germany also visited Ruth and Hans in the lovely home they built in Libertyville. Hans died in 1977.

In 1985, Ruth married Rudolph “Rudy” Lense in Libertyville, Illinois. In 1990, they moved to Colorado to be near her son, George, his wife, Sandy, and their daughter Lora. After 10 years in Colorado, they moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, to be near her daughter, Barbara, husband Jim, and their three children Parker, Derek and Kristin. Rudy died in 2019.

Ruth was a kind, loving, compassionate woman who valued and nurtured her relationships with God, family and friends. Ruth always gave a smile no matter what was going on in her life. She was a good listener, thoughtful of others, full of grace and had an enduring laugh and vitality. All her life she made friends wherever she went.

Ruth is survived by her children: George (Sandy) Juetersonke, their daughter Lora (Tyler) Jorgensen, and children Kade and Kru, all of CO, and Barbara (Jim) LaGree of OKC and their children, Parker of KS, Derek and Kristin (Casey) Pittman of OKC; her older brother, Helmut (Terry) Appelt, his daughters: Gabriela Appelt and daughter, Tiffany (Steven) Crawford and children Braydon, Dylan, Landon, of IL, and Marian Appelt, of MN; Ruth’s younger brother, Ulrich (Christa) Appelt, their children Dirk and Stephanie (Tim) Appelt Mandelartz and son, Jannis; nieces Brigitta (Berthold) Wallmeier, Marlies (Hans) Herbeck, all of Germany.

Ruth will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Compassion International, an organization dedicated to releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. www.compassion.com