Ruby Bokma Klahne

WELLFLEET - Ruby Bokma Klahne, 91, of Wellfleet, Massachusetts went to be with the Lord on December 18th, 2017 passing away peacefully at the McCarthy Care Center in East Sandwich. Born on a farm in Midland Park, New Jersey to Klaas and Albertha Bokma from Friesland, Netherlands, Ruby was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend.

The youngest of fourteen brothers and sisters, Ruby had an early desire to enter the nursing field and became a member of the United States Army Cadet Nurse Corps in the waning days of World War II. Ruby graduated with top honors from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Patterson, New Jersey in 1949. In subsequent years, Ruby became the Clinical Supervisor of Nursing and later, Supervisor of Medicine and Surgery at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey and occasionally served as hospital Chaplain. In 1957, Ruby married Richard O. Klahne from Ridgewood, New Jersey. In the early 1960’s, Ruby established her own business as a private duty nurse and cared for her ailing husband for six years until his death in 1967. A true pioneer and groundbreaker, Ruby was an early and vocal advocate for equal pay for women in the hospital, a participant in civil rights marches and was a strong voice for fair and compassionate treatment for the mentally disabled.

In 1971, Ruby moved her family to Cape Cod and became the proprietor of a rooming house catering to elderly residents which she operated out of her colonial home in Wellfleet. The residents were provided with home cooked meals, their own rooms and personal, attentive care. During rare, quiet moments, Ruby enjoyed a variety of artistic endeavors including painting, drawing birds, making wood toys and many other woodworking projects. An accomplished needle worker, Ruby was a contributor to Woman’s Day magazine which featured her embroidery skills.

Although Ruby’s passion was nursing and caring for others, what truly defined her was her deep, abiding faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Her faith was at the center of all she did and, in particular, as a young widow, raising her three children.

In later years, Ruby enjoyed visits from her children, friends and extended family, sitting on the patio on a summer afternoon, watching the Fourth of July parade passing in front of the house and other holiday celebrations, drives to the ocean, telephone conversations with her nieces and reading.

Ruby is survived by her son, Richard Klahne of Bolton MA, her daughter Esther Klahne of Lancaster, MA, her son, Scott Klahne of Wellfleet MA and many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Visiting hours will be held January 3rd, 2018 between 6 - 8 PM at the Nickerson Funeral Home on Eldredge Parkway in Orleans, Massachusetts. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Funeral Services on Thursday, January 4th, 2018 at 10:00 AM at the Brewster Baptist Church, Rt 6A in Brewster with a reception to follow at the Wellfleet United Methodist Church on Main Street. . A private burial service will occur at a later date. On January 13th, 2018 at 11:00 AM, a memorial service will be held at Grace Chapel, 59 Worthen Road, Lexington, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruby’s memory to: In Touch Ministries P.O. Box 7900 Atlanta, GA 30357 or to the hospital of your choice.