Ruth E. Spooner, 90, of Beloit, WI, passed on Thursday morning, May 7, 2026, at Cedar Crest, in Janesville, WI. She was born December 14, 1935 in Russellville, AL, the daughter of Ralph and Pearl Richeson. In 1948, Ruth’s family moved to Rockford, IL. where she was befriended and invited to worship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. In 1952, Ruth became a baptized and confirmed member of the church. Ruth graduated from Rockford East High School, class of 1954. She attended Rockford Business College, and worked at Lobdell Realty in Rockford, IL followed by Besly-Bendix Corporation in South Beloit, IL. She later attended Blackhawk Tech. and received her associate’s degrees with Honors in Accounting and Data Processing, while working at Freeman Shoe Company for almost a decade. Ruth married her sweetheart, Raymond “Limey” Spooner on August 5, 1961 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Beloit, WI where Ruth was an active faithful member for over 65 years. Ruth’s proudest accomplishment in life was being a devoted wife, an ever- present and loving mother, and to others, a compassionate sister in Christ. Throughout Ruth’s life, traveling with her family in a motorhome across the USA and Canada brought her great joy and allowed her to further pursue her passion for genealogy. Ruth was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for 58 years, and a member of the Seekers of the Past in Franklin County, AL. Besides traveling and genealogy, her other joys in life were dancing with Ray, gardening, and reading scripture.
Ruth is loved and missed by her children, Dean (Lynda) Spooner, Jill Jennings and Gail (Michael) Kretschmer; daughter-in-law, Holly Fletcher; dearest friend, Laura Hernandez; grandchildren, Noelle (Bennie) Calhoun, Savannah Jennings, West Jennings, Laura Spooner, Miah Kretschmer and Jadyn (Chase Peterson) Kretschmer; great-grandson, Jase Peterson; brother, Cedric (Emily) Richeson; sister-in-law, Trudy Richeson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond, son Neil Spooner, brothers Norman and Aaron Richeson and sister Irene (Tej) Sedeora.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the employees of Cedar Crest for their loving and compassionate care of Ruth.
A visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd, Machesney Park, IL 61115 with a funeral service to begin at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Mark Duer presiding. Burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Beloit.
