Ruth Miriam Stevens, daughter of Rollo and Effie Walter Peirce, was born November 7, 1916, at her parents’ home in rural Williamsburg, Iowa. She attended country school in the Williamsburg area and Williamsburg High School.
On November 7, 1942, she was united in marriage with Ralph Lewis Stevens at her parents’ home. The couple farmed northwest of Sumner. In addition to making a home for their children, Ruth assisted her husband with the farm.
Ruth became a resident of the Hillcrest Apartments in November of 2000, and moved to the Hillcrest Home in October of 2005. Her death occurred at Hillcrest early Wednesday morning, August 5, 2009, from natural causes. She was 92 years old and had been a member of Hillcrest Baptist/Brethren Church in Fredericksburg. She loved reading, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Ruth is survived by three sons, George (Kathie) Stevens and Loren (Susan) Stevens, both of Sumner, and Ronald (Pamela) Stevens of Shell Rock; one daughter, Evelyn Thompson of Nashua; twelve grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Marjorie Stevens of Sumner.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, who died May 18, 2000; her parents; one brother, Leighton Peirce; and three sisters, Leona Peirce, Vera Dietrich, and Florence Dietrich.
Services for Ruth will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 8, 2009, at Hillcrest Baptist/Brethren Church in Fredericksburg. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, August 7, 2009, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the church on Saturday. Burial will be at Wilson Grove Cemetery in Sumner.
