I used to call Ruth the curly headed champion of the underdog. Why? She had a big heart and sincerely cared for people. She really used the gifts that God had given her in her life; she was loved by the customers at Medicap Pharmacy. People who were blessed to spend time with her knew that she humbly shinned through the grace, peace, and forgiveness she shared. She always smiled and was kind to all, especially to me.
The world could sure use more souls like Ruth. She is no longer suffering, is in a better place, and is rejoicing with our Savior, not to mention a bunch of relatives.
I look forward to seeing her and giving her a hug, I will definitely miss you till we are together again. Thank you for your love and gentle example.

Wayne Belner (part two)

In August of 1975 I began going to the College of Pharmacy at Drake University in Des Moines Iowa. The first week there I had a class in Freshman Biology, the teaching assistant passed out Microscopes; I couldn’t see anything. I proceeded to look around the room for a kind face, and who did I see? Ruth. I walked up to her and uttered the romantic line: “I can’t see anything through this Microscope can you?” That is how we met.
Over the years we became friends and studied together, but did not date. Why? She was a Christian and me a Jew. That changed when I was 21 and came to know Christ. Ruth had been consistently praying for my salvation ever since she had filled out a prayer card at a Jews for Jesus event years before. This is a good example to be careful who you pray for: Ruth ended up being stuck with me the rest of her life. I married up, she was better than I deserved; God always gives more than we can imagine. We always prayed that we would be a better witness together than we could have been on our own.
When I came to know Christ, God gave me a hunger for his word and I read the entire Bible in one month. One day Ruth came to visit prior to when we started going out, and asked if I had any questions about what I was reading. Well, I recently read the passage that says sell everything you have and follow me: so I was thinking of getting rid of what little I had to follow Jesus. Ruth explained that I could still follow Christ and that this particular passage wasn’t necessarily for me. She had come at the right time to illuminate his word and provide gentle wisdom as only Ruth could do.

Wayne Belner (part one)

We enjoyed visits to Iowa and being able to hang out with the cousins as I great up. Ruth was always kind, loving and had a quiet spirit about her. She always willing to listen and always made us feel at home.   
She will be missed, 
James Holmen  and Amber Holmen

Ruth was a fun loving, thoughtful, compassionate and caring person. She always had a positive attitude and was interested in what was going on in other people’s lives. Her smile and presence brought warmth to a room. Ruth’s faith in God shined through all she did. Even when life got hard, she never complained and could always find something to be thankful for. In May 2018 she was driving around in her wheelchair directing volunteers who had come to help with yard work and making she they wouldn’t pull the flowers all the while letting God’s love shine through her. That weekend she asked if I would wash her hair. It was quite the deal – we did it out on the deck. She put on a raincoat and I wrapped a tarp over her, so she wouldn’t get soaked while I washed her hair. What a special time of giving and receiving. What a good and faithful servant of God. I thank God for her and will indeed miss her.

Love, 
Judy Holmen

I will remember my mother as loving, caring, patient, forgiving, gracious, thoughtful, and prayerful. Growing up my mom would always encourage us and love us patiently. I remember a time in fifth grade when I was working on a history assignment in my room. The assignment was to write a letter that would have been exchanged during the civil war. After writing it I decided I wanted to singe the edges. I lit one edge of the paper and blew it out. When I went to singe the other side the whole piece of paper caught fire. I dropped it into a metal trash can thinking that would extinguish it, but a piece floated out and landed on the carpet starting a fire in my room. I quickly stomped it out, but not before smoke alarms went off. My mom ran to my room to make sure I was OK. When she asked me what happened I lied. I explained how someone must have crawled through my bedroom window (I was on the second floor) started a fire, and jumped out. She played along with it patiently until I came clean after I couldn't take lying to her anymore. She was patient with me and quick to forgive. She did not get angry or upset with me even though I could have burned the house down. The way she loved me in this moment was a consistent theme throughout my life. She gave me great examples of Christ's love, and I am so thankful for the mother He gave me growing up, and the mother He gave me to remember. 

Josh
Son
29







My fondest memories of Aunt Ruth revolve around Christmas .  As a child, every year I'd look forward to hanging out with cousins at Aunt Ruth's house.  Although the highlight of my time was playing with cousins and eating Christmas treats, Aunt Ruth was always there diligently working hard and lovingly to be an amazing host of our Christmas Traditions.  Aunt Ruth was always brought a patient and loving presence to the room.  To this day, I often think of Aunt Ruth during the Christmas season and she is closely associated with fun family gatherings, sitting at giant spreads of endless food, and having an amazingly caring and giving attitude.

Erik Paul Larson

March 25, 2017, after just after Ruth was diagnosed with ALS, while helping Ruth in her bedroom, she took out her mother’s wedding dress and showed it to me. As we spoke of her how the ALS was beginning to limit her to ability to do things, she asked me if someday, I would help Anna with planning her wedding. I promised her I would. texted photo Anna was engaged to Clint on August 29th and they set a wedding date for October 21. Anna wanted her mother to be at her wedding. 52 days and God took care of the details.
The Thursday before the wedding Ruth and Wayne arrived in Nashville. It had been a hard journey. On Friday, Ruth wanted to know the details of the wedding were all set. Everything she asked for, God had provided. This was a time of divine intervention for preparation for an earthly wedding celebration and a heavenly feast…both were coming so soon. On Saturday, during the picnic gathering, Ruth moved around in her wheelchair from group to group, listening to the conversations, enjoying participating in the events of the day. The wedding was beautiful and the photographer was able to take family photos that will forever be treasured. Ruth was determined to be at her daughter’s wedding; she wanted and to see the father daughter dance.
After the Father/Daughter dance, Ruth was failing and a decision was made to bring her back to the hotel. Three nursing co-workers of Anna’s were there as angels, one rode in the van with Wayne. As they made the 40-minute journey, God met Ruth and HE opened his heavenly gates to say, “Well done, my faithful and loving servant, you have lived life for me by helping others…come now and celebrate for great is your reward.”
Treasuring all our moments together,
Shared with love,
Mary Krech

As a small child, I have special memories of Christmas and summer gatherings at Grandpa Larson’s. All the cousins often slept in the living room. We had fun, we played games, laughed, drank Dad’s Root Beer, provided by Grandpa and collected many memories. While I greatly looked forward to these gatherings, I often received a box of hand-me-down clothes from Ruth! This was defiantly a perk of being one of the youngest cousins.
Over the years, we began having Larson gatherings on a weekend in the summer. Ruth and I stayed connected through the years. We both married and our children were born very close to each other and they became like first cousins as we gathered several times a year as families. Confirmations, graduations and weddings have all been shared.
When life had its’ ups and downs, we were there to support and pray for each other. Cell phones, texting and Facebook were all ways we stayed connected. She was my “life line” many times. Her compassion, love and patience will always be treasured. She has been a solid rock in my life. She was an encourager, a cousin, a friend and a sister.

Mary Krech (part one)

Ruth had a gentle and quiet spirit which is described as imperishable and precious in the sight of God (1 Peter 3:4).
Although none of us can love perfectly until we are “face to face,” Ruth’s life reminds me of the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13
.....patient, kind, not jealous or arrogant, not self-seeking or provoked, doesn’t take into account a wrong suffered, rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.....
Because of Ruth’s faith in God and His faithfulness to her, she was able to live this out, not only in the good times, but also through sorrow and suffering.

Becky Shuka (step-sister)

This is one of my favorite recent pictures I got at Kristin & Jordan’s wedding!
I had lots of wonderful time catching up with Ruth that night and her pure joy in that moment was so awesome, she smiled and told me she would dance again one day while she watched all the cousins and second cousins dancing.
Love you Ruth and I love that now you’re in heaven with Lois and Grandma and Grandpa,

Erin Heilman

Ruth was a “working mom” balancing career, husband and children all at the same time. She was a loving, nurturing mother and a good provider for as long as she was able. It was clear that she was respected, appreciated and even loved by fellow employees and those she served. She was a compassionate employee who developed caring relationships with many of her clients. Throughout her life, Ruth was a woman of faith. Her faith was at the very center of her identity; it was her source of strength, hope and inspiration. This was especially true as she faced her final challenge, the ALS diagnosis. She witnessed the disease take the life of both our dad and our older sister, Lois, so she knew firsthand the path that was before her. But even through the difficulties of her final months, Ruth trusted Jesus and remained strong in her faith; positive, hopeful and thankful for each and every day. We thank God for our sister,  Ruth, and we look forward to embracing her again one day, whole, happy and healthy in heaven. 

Until then with love and fond memories ~ Dale & Christy

I have many fond memories of my sister, Ruth, so let’s begin... As a little kid, I remember Ruth’s never-ending patience with me, her pesky little brother. We spent HOURS in the car with our other siblings and parents during family vacations, traveling all over the US. Amazingly, we didn’t mind being cooped up in the car together; we filled our time playing travel bingo, tracking our progress on the AAA “TripTik” and examining every license plate we could lay our eyes on, desperately trying to find all 50 states. I also remember making Christmas cookies with Ruth and Mom year after year. Ruth and I “painted” the delicate pepperkaker that Mom made. Ruth was a much better artist than I. Ruth was a very dedicated student; she also enjoyed playing violin. She graduated high school at the very top of her class as valedictorian; she was the perfect example of a hardworking, serious student. She was 2 years ahead of me, so when I graduated high school in 1977, we took a trip to Europe with my friend, Kevin. The three of us had lots of fun together. We especially enjoyed the time we spent in England visiting our sister, Lois, who was living there with her husband, Mik.
Ruth attended Drake University to become a pharmacist, following in the footsteps of our Aunt Elvia and Grandpa Werner. Once again, she demonstrated her strong work ethic and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She was a member of Rho Chi (ΡΧ), an international honor society for pharmaceutical sciences. In spite of the rigors of pharmacy school, she found time to be very involved in Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship and even served as their Missions Chair. She was a very busy college co-ed in the 70’s, but she also made time to date a fellow pharmacy student at Drake, a certain Wayne Belner.

Dale and Christy (part one)

I had the privilege of working with Ruth during my first two years at Medicap. She is the most kind, caring, and wonderful person. When my boyfriend was moving across the country for his job, many people told me that it was not going to last. Ruth, knowing that I was afraid due to the doubts that other people were putting in my head, was so quick to comfort me. She told me that if her sister can communicate with her future husband through mail for a couple years, then my boyfriend and I could make it a couple years with actual technology to keep us connected. She always put others before herself regardless of who they were. Patient, family, friends, coworkers, or strangers – everyone was loved and respected by Ruth. The had the patience to answer all my questions when I first started at Medicap, and she is truly missed. Our patients cared so deeply about her because she was the definition of the word “kindness.”

Arianna Johnson

Ruth-
~ Soft spoken, always smiling, sweet, kind, and loving. Ruth was a wonderful cousin, person, and friend to me.
~ I remember one summer staying with Ruth and her family for a week in Des Moines. I only remember being in her bedroom playing together. Both being very quiet girls. But all of the Larson granddaughters were very soft spoken and tender loving to each other.
~ Then Ruth stayed with us one summer. She taught me to play rummy. In fact I just taught Ryan (my grandson) to play it and thought of her as we played this card game.
~ We had a such a great time getting together on fathers day with the 4 Larson families at Grandpa Larson’s farm place. Then in later years at our farm, playing “kick the can” outside.
~ Heaven has a wonderful angel looking out for us back here on earth.
~ I just wish Ruth could have been on earth another 15 years so her grandchildren would have experienced her wonderful qualities.
~ We were prayer warriors these past 2 years. Ruth fighting ALS and me-Lyme. She always said I had it worse then she did due to me having pain. I silently knew that mine might be curable, and with ALS each week would be worse. She was always positive through her journey. I shed many tears with her.
~ I miss Ruth, but very shortly we will all be in heaven together again. She is the lucky one really to be there before us!

Pat Johnson Brosamle

Kristi and I will always have great memories of the time that we were able to share with Ruth & Wayne when we traveled together to the Holy Land in March of 2016.
It was wonderful to share with them the many different Biblical sites that we have come to know and love through our past trips to Israel and Jordan. Ruth had long hoped and dreamed to make this pilgrimage. Some of the highlights in Israel would be Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, Bethlehem, and the Wailing Wall and the great Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. In Jordan we traveled to Amman, to the ancient city of Jerash with its elaborate Roman ruins, and then on to the great ancient hidden Nabatean city of Petra. Ruth was fascinated with all the gorgeous colors of the red, yellow and orange sandstone from which this ancient city was carved into the steep canyon walls. Ruth enjoyed the adventure of visiting the different sites and meeting the people in the market places. She also truly enjoyed trying all the different Middle Eastern foods and her great conversations with the many different people we met along our journey. We will be forever thankful that we could share this experience.
Paul & Kristi Larson

Aunt Ruth was such a sweet, humble person who truly had a servant’s heart. I will always appreciate the time she took out of her own busy schedule to see me and my family whenever we visited the Des Moines area. Even though we went every summer during the last several years, she still took time to see us for several days on every visit, rearranging her work so she could go on day trips with us, and, along with Uncle Wayne, having us over for dinner at their house.
I was also fortunate enough to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Belner family during my college years. At Thanksgiving time during my Freshman year of college, Aunt Ruth went Black Friday shopping with me at 5 or 6 am in order to find a set of really warm mittens so I’d be prepared for Minnesota winters at my college campus. Aunt Ruth and Uncle Wayne took me winter coat shopping later that day as well, treating me as if I was a member of their immediate family by sacrificing time to help me get things I needed.
As I was looking through pictures during this past summer, I realized that Aunt Ruth has been at several of my major life events. She was a part of what made these events special for me. As I saw Aunt Ruth these past couple years struggling with ALS, I was impressed by how she handled such a difficult illness with grace. Amidst all the difficulties she had, never once did I hear her complain. Rather, she seemed focused on enjoying the present moment and on spending quality time with the people around her. Hopefully that can be a life lesson for all of us.

The second picture is our last Christmas with LaVerna and Ruth! What a fun and memorable time! Lori knew we all needed special hats for the occasion!!! Love and miss both of you!!!

Mary Caligiuri

This day was a very special haircut, because I cut Ruth’s beautiful curls off! She wanted her hair to be easier! I enjoyed watching the dog pick up the curls as fast as they fell to the floor. She was beautiful in her new “do”!!! I will miss cutting that beautiful hair!


I loved standing next to Ruth in the Redeemer choir. She had such a strong, sure alto voice that made us all sound good! 

Faith Sherman

God’s timing is perfect. It was the one time that the whole immediate family and extended family was together for her to say good bye to, and to support one another as she departed. I have no doubt that Ruth went skipping excitedly into Heaven with her new body, and was greeted by her mother, father, her sister Lois (and my mother, Lois), her step-father, those three grandparents she’d never met, as well as a host of other relatives and the whole hosts of Heaven, rejoicing.
I will miss you, dear Ruth. But I know exactly where you are, and I am happy for you. And, my life has been enriched beyond measure for having known you. Thank you for your friendship, and all that you taught me.

‘Till we meet again,
Lori Stiles (part three)

I got to hang out with Ruth some Thursday evenings over this past summer while Wayne took some respite time. In July, when her body was failing her and even speaking was a challenge, I asked her, “Ruth. How are you really doing with all this?” It was my way of opening up an opportunity for her to ‘let it go’ and ‘get it all out’, i.e. those deep, dark feelings that she didn’t dare verbalize to even her husband or children, because she was trying to be strong for them. I wanted to give her the forum to be able to spill how frustrated she was, how angry she was that this was happening to her, and how unfair it was.
But there was none of that. In true Ruth fashion, she simply shrugged, shook her head a bit, and matter-of-factly said, “I just know that this is my lot. I know that this is how it will be for me.” Then, with a twinkle in her eye, a smile on her face, she went on to say, “And you know… I have been thinking…I have three sets of grandparents that I have never met, and I’m going to get to meet them!” And, that was the end of that discussion! She was so secure, and I was so in awe.
I believe that on the evening of October 21, in her mind she was saying, “Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen . . . my daughter married, to the man You have fashioned just for her, and I know she will be taken care of. Thank you. I can go now.”
I believe it was important to Ruth to have Anna, Josh, and Wayne be near her when she transitioned from this world to the next—not for her sake, but for theirs. She didn’t want them to ‘get a phone call one day’ and forever wish they’d have been there.

Lori Stiles (part two)

I first met Ruth and Wayne in about 2003 in a Small Group Bible Study when we were pretty new to Hope. I recall her telling us about her sister, Lois, who was battling ALS—as her father did—and we included Lois and her family in our prayers. Over the years, we met again at a few other Small Groups and church services and activities. Tim and I got to know them best when the four of us formed our own ‘Very Small’ group for Bible Study at our home, about 2007. She was a wealth of knowledge, and always so fervent on prayer. I got to know one of the most selfless, kind-hearted, modest, and tolerant person I’ve ever known.
We enjoyed many brunch and dinner dates over the years, and were invited to each other’s significant family events like confirmations, graduations, and weddings. Josh and Anna absolutely were her pride and joy.
Fast-forward to 2017 after her official diagnosis in February. I made a journal entry on Sunday, March 5. It started with “So…I just had coffee with Ruth Belner. . . .
“I’ve not journaled for a long while, but nothing stops you in your tracks and gets you to journal thoughts more than having coffee with a friend of 14 years who knows—and you know—she has maybe 18 months left on this earth. . . . She knows all too well what’s to come, as she’s seen it in her dad and sister succumbing to this same disease.
She is amazing! She teared up only when repeating what her mother said—that ‘she didn’t want to live here anymore if Ruth wasn’t going to be here’, and when she spoke of having her kids understand more fully what is in store.
I stated that she is doing so well with this! “I’d be a basket case!” I said.
She replied, “Well, I’ve decided that I might as well be calm about it so I can enjoy the time I have.
If I was a basket case, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. I’d be a mess! So… I know what’s in store and I know God is with me in it.”
Lori Stiles (part one)

Without doubt, Ruth was one of the most beautiful people I ever had the privilege of knowing. Her gentle nature, quite manner, and sweet demeanor created a cheerful environment any time you were around her. It was an honor for Gleean and me to be Ruth and Wayne’s neighbors for these past many years and have the pleasure of having Ruth in our lives.
Rest In Peace Ruth. You are in a better place.

Don Coates


It is very hard to send this message of remembrance because there are so many fond memories and it is more than a little painful right now to recall them. Ruth was the kind of neighbor and friend that everyone would wish to have. She was always there when you needed a helping hand, always cheerful, always thoughtful and kind. I will miss her pleasant greetings from her backyard to me in mine. Many a time she would see me working in my yard, pulling weeds or digging in the dirt for some reason and she would come over to see if she could help. Right now I am sad because there will be no more of those meetings but I am so very glad that I had the privilege of being a friend to Ruth and she will always hold a special place in my heart.

Ruth was one of the most caring women  I ever knew. I will miss cutting her hair, having conversations, and sharing a meal.
I loved her so much and she will always have a part of my heart! Blessings  and love over your family !!!
Mary Caligiuri 

Aunt Ruth was always very welcoming. Even though she was my step-aunt, she treated me like her own nephew. We  always had a lot of fun when our families got together. She will be missed. 

Ruth had a gentle and quiet spirit which is described as imperishable and precious in the sight of God (1 Peter 3:4).

Although none of us can love perfectly until we are "face to face," Ruth's life reminds me of the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13.  
.....patient, kind, not jealous or arrogant, not self-seeking or provoked, doesn't take into account a wrong suffered, rejoices with the truth,
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.....
Because of Ruth's faith in God and His faithfulness to her, she was able to live this out, not only in the good times, but also through sorrow and suffering. 

Oh, gentle one who radiated Jesus's love with beautiful sympathetic eyes-Ruth.
We know that she is at home now in heaven with our Lord & her loved ones who have gone 
before. And  Wayne,  faithful one who showed us how to care for Ruth in her struggle-even with godly humor. We know Jesus is with each of you with His comfort & peace.
We keep you in our hearts & prayers.
Lloyd & Gay
We will be giving a memorial to one of Ruth's requests.

Aunt Ruth was such a humble, kind, and generous person.  I was very fortunate to have her as my aunt.  Wayne, Joshua, Melissa, Anna, and Clint, you are all in my prayers.

OBITUARY

Ruth L. Belner

April 14, 1957 – October 21, 2018

McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel & Mortuary & Resthaven Cemetery

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