Ruth Elvera Bruckner Challener

Ruth Elvera Bruckner Challener died December 8, 2020 of a stroke. Born 7/22/1951 in Montana, she remembered watching the power and telephone lines coming up over the prairie. She obtained the highest score ever received in Malta High School, and was known for her kind heart After high school, she went to Moody Bible Institute for 2 years followed by graduating from Wheaten College studying Elementary Education. She got a teaching certificate and taught in Chicago for a few years before moving to Urbana and preparing to be a missionary with the Navigators in Germany. She served there for 10 years, working mostly with nursing students. It was there she met her husband, David Challener.

In 1987 she married David and moved to East Fishkill, NY where she continued volunteering with children in their church, and had two of her own, Timothy and Stephen. After moving with them down to Raleigh, NC when her husband was transferred, she continued volunteering at Hope Charter School, Lynn Road Elementary School, and teaching “Homework Help” for refugees near her home. She worked at a nearby Christian camp, led Bible studies, taught Sunday School, and loved and helped so many people it would be impossible to name them all.

Her husband was in awe of her kindness, and she was loved without measure by her husband and sons, who are bereft by their loss.

She is survived by her sister Carol, brothers, Paul, Mark and Tim, Uncles Evert and Glenn, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Crossnore School and Children’s Home

She is home now, but our hearts are still with her. “Someday, not too long, we’ll meet again face to face.”