Ruth H Harris

Ruth was born on April 9, 1933 in Cloquet, Minnesota. Her parents were Kenneth and Helen Walker. She graduated from Cloquet High School in 1951 and from the University of Minnesota in 1955. Ruth married Merle Gene Harris on June 7, 1957. They were married for over 50 years and together they had four children and one grandchild.

Ruth lived an active life. While growing up she was athletic and participated in many winter sports such as skiing and ice-skating in Northern Minnesota. She was a director of a youth program at the YWCA in Rapid City when she met her husband, Merle.

Ruth worked as a child welfare social worker in South Dakota and for the State of Nebraska Department of Labor as a case manager and job training counselor. She helped many people around the panhandle region during her career. When her kids were young Ruth was active with the Boy Scouts of America serving as a Cub Scout den mother and volunteered for various PTA activities.

She was a past president of the local Soroptimist club, a post secretary for the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a former member of Valley Voices, and Friends of the Library. Ruth also loved volunteering with her friends at the Legacy of the Plains museum in Gering. She and 'the girls' helped out with the annual soup dinner fundraiser for many years.

Ruth loved to bake and cook, and provided wonderful meals for her family. She enjoyed many family activities including frequent camping trips and visiting friends and relatives. She and Merle really liked to visit Fort Robinson and Ash Hollow. Ruth was especially fond of the Christmas season and greatly enjoyed decorating her home and sharing meals and gifts for the holidays. She also loved to travel with Merle. Together they visited almost all of the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. They also enjoyed vacations in Canada and Mexico.

Ruth was an active member of Calvary Lutheran ELCA Church in Scottsbluff. She and her family joined the congregation in 1976. Ruth loved to sing in the choir and frequently volunteered to serve Lent meals and work with children in the JAM program. Ruth hosted Bible studies in her home and led a life guided by faith. In a farewell note written before her final years she expressed her strong conviction that Jesus Christ would accompany her on her eternal journey.

Ruth also greatly enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of many local bridge clubs well into her 80's. In her spare time she enjoyed reading suspense novels and sewing and crafting, including making hand-sewn Christmas ornaments for family and friends. Ruth was a big fan of football and spent every fall following the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Denver Broncos. Ruth liked visiting Deadwood, South Dakota to play the slots. She and Merle also made some fun trips to Reno and Las Vegas.

She listed as a highlight of her life celebrating 50 years of marriage and spending a week at a dude ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota with Merle, her four children, and her grandchild, Claire. After marrying Merle, she lived in Mitchell, South Dakota, Dickenson, North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, and the towns of Valentine, Kearney, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Merle, her parents, her two brothers, Kenneth James Walker and Thomas Morton Walker, sister-in-law Isabelle Walker and sister-in-law Marlene (Mia) Harris.

Survivors include her four children: Jeffrey Harris of Columbus, Nebraska, Dr. Rodney Harris (wife Anna) of San Diego, California, Douglas Harris of Gering, daughter Cami Harris (partner Mike Silbernagel) of Arvada, Colorado, and granddaughter Claire Silbernagel of Morgantown, West Virginia. Survivors also include her sister-in-law Glenda Stivers (Florida), brother-in-law Gary Harris (Minnesota) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her family is grateful for the thoughtful caregivers at Emerald Court during the last two years of her life and Brookstone Hospice in helping her and the family through her final days.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, September 18th at 11:00 AM at Calvary Lutheran Church in Scottsbluff. A lunch reception will take place directly after the service at the church, with a private internment for the family at 2:00 PM at Fairview Cemetery. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.dugankramer.com. Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.