Ruth Florene (Wittler) Wiese was born to John and Jennie (Meirath) in DeWitt, Ne on Jan. 13, 1931.
She graduated from DeWitt high school and then taught children grades K-8 for two years in District 7 and two years in District 20 in Saline County. On Aug. 10, 1952, she married Herman Wiese from Pickrell. Together, they farmed and raised their five children in the area. After Herman died in 1995, Ruth volunteered at Lincoln General/Bryan West hospital weekly for nearly 20 years. She enjoyed family reunions and travel within and outside the United States. Ruth bowled in Beatrice for many years where she met special friend Lloyd Janssen. Ruth attended church and bible study and was active in the Ladies Aid of Zion Lutheran Church Wisconsin Synod, Clatonia.
In recent years, she enjoyed playing cards and dominos in Clatonia and at the DeWitt Senior Center, until she moved into the Wilber Care Center in 2022. There she enjoyed activities and field trips – her last in December 2024, to view the Crystal Springs (Fairbury) Christmas Lights display.
Ruth is survived by four children, Steve (Lynn) Wiese, Marieta (Rick) Hartwig, Janet (Tom) Halpin, and Cheryl Wiese (John Iverson); six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, Ryan (Iris) Wiese (Lily and Jayden) , Chris Hartwig (Micah, Kinley and Blakely), Cara (Garrett) White (Maggie, Haddie, Knox and Easton), Crystal (Jacob) Linch (Harper, Brooks, Payton), Taylor (Rachel) Halpin, Chelsea (Mike) Lee, Bailey and Shannon Manhart.
Her husband, Herman; her oldest son, Rodney; her parents, John and Jennie; her brother, Virgil Wittler; and her special friend, Lloyd Janssen, preceded her in death.
The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, rural Clatonia. Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery in DeWitt. The body will lie in state Thursday from 2 – 8 p.m. at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with the family greeting friends from 4 - 6 p.m., and at the church after 12:30 p.m. Friday. Memorial contributions are suggested to the church with the funeral home and church elders in charge.
As we remember Ruth, we invite you to share your memories and upload photos to her memorial page at www.ghchapel.com. Your stories and images will serve as a comforting reminder of the love she had for all who knew her.
Arrangements by Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.
