Ruth Viola Wiedmer age 94, of Emporia, Kansas, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, at her home in Emporia.
Ruth was born on December 5, 1919 in McFarland, Kansas, the daughter of Ezra and TryPhena Wagner Simpson.
She is survived by her son, Bruce Bertwell of West Plains, Missouri; her daughter, Mary (John) Forsythe of Emporia; a granddaughter, Sarah (Josh) Henning of Americus, Kansas; grandson, Thomas (Paige) Thompson of Rockwall, Texas; and great-grandchildren, Cooper Thompson and Sofia Henning.
She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Walter Simpson and Clifford Simpson, and also two sisters, Margaret Brown and Edith McKee.
Ruth was raised in Manhattan, Kansas, where she went to high school and belonged to the First Christian Church. She attended Emporia Teachers College and Kansas State University, where she attained her two year teaching certificate. She taught grades 1-8 in a one-room schoolhouse near Manhattan until WW II. She then moved to San Francisco to work as an aircraft quality inspector. She celebrated VJ Day in San Francisco, returning to Manhattan after the plant closed.
She married Lewis Bertwell in 1945, and remained in the home raising Bruce and Mary until she moved to Concordia, Kansas to teach. She returned to Manhattan to complete her teaching degree in 1960. Upon graduating from K-State, she taught grade school and Special Reading in the Junction City and Fort Riley school systems. She married Hubert Wiedmer in 1967 in Junction City, Kansas. Upon retirement they relocated to Emporia to be near their grandchildren. Hubert preceded Ruth in death on March 29, 2001 in Emporia.
Ruth believed there was nothing more important than her faith and family. She cherished and loved her family and found great joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Cremation is planned, with a private inurnment at St. George Cemetery, St. George, Kansas. She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Emporia. A memorial has been established for the Emporia Public Library, with contributions sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Viola Wiedmer, please visit our flower store.
Ruth was born on December 5, 1919 in McFarland, Kansas, the daughter of Ezra and TryPhena Wagner Simpson.
She is survived by her son, Bruce Bertwell of West Plains, Missouri; her daughter, Mary (John) Forsythe of Emporia; a granddaughter, Sarah (Josh) Henning of Americus, Kansas; grandson, Thomas (Paige) Thompson of Rockwall, Texas; and great-grandchildren, Cooper Thompson and Sofia Henning.
She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Walter Simpson and Clifford Simpson, and also two sisters, Margaret Brown and Edith McKee.
Ruth was raised in Manhattan, Kansas, where she went to high school and belonged to the First Christian Church. She attended Emporia Teachers College and Kansas State University, where she attained her two year teaching certificate. She taught grades 1-8 in a one-room schoolhouse near Manhattan until WW II. She then moved to San Francisco to work as an aircraft quality inspector. She celebrated VJ Day in San Francisco, returning to Manhattan after the plant closed.
She married Lewis Bertwell in 1945, and remained in the home raising Bruce and Mary until she moved to Concordia, Kansas to teach. She returned to Manhattan to complete her teaching degree in 1960. Upon graduating from K-State, she taught grade school and Special Reading in the Junction City and Fort Riley school systems. She married Hubert Wiedmer in 1967 in Junction City, Kansas. Upon retirement they relocated to Emporia to be near their grandchildren. Hubert preceded Ruth in death on March 29, 2001 in Emporia.
Ruth believed there was nothing more important than her faith and family. She cherished and loved her family and found great joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Cremation is planned, with a private inurnment at St. George Cemetery, St. George, Kansas. She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Emporia. A memorial has been established for the Emporia Public Library, with contributions sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Viola Wiedmer, please visit our flower store.
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