Ruth Mae (Nuss) Critser, 91, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2020 at her home in WaKeeney, KS.
Ruth was born May 4, 1928 in the country home of her grandparents, in Wheatland Township, Barton County, KS, the tenth child of Reinhold and Amalia (Beisel) Nuss.
She was baptized Lutheran on May 20, 1928 in Stickney, KS. She was confirmed on April 18, 1943 in Great Bend, KS at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Growing up in the country, she attended three years in a one room school. Her parents moved to Great Bend, KS where she attended three years of high school. Ruth received her GED High School Diploma in 1971 while living in WaKeeney, KS. She continued her education by taking some college courses.
Ruth started working at age 16 babysitting for neighbors’ children. She was a clerk at the Five & Ten Store and J.S. Dillions Grocery Store. Ruth worked at the Fairmont Ice Cream Store that was operated by her mother. There she met her soul mate, Bob Critser, in May of 1944. Ruth and Bob were married August 2, 1946 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Great Bend, KS. They were blessed with 7 children. They moved to WaKeeney, KS in 1953 where they raised their family and built their life. Ruth’s family was her pride and joy. While raising their children, Ruth was an active leader in Scouting and youth work. She enjoyed embroidering, sewing for her family. She made clothing, dolls, aprons, curtains, blankets, tea towels and many other projects.
Ruth and Bob owned the Coast to Coast Hardware Store in WaKeeney where several family members worked. They sold the store in 1973 and moved out to their farm south of WaKeeney. Ruth enjoyed planting large gardens and canning what she grew. Ruth was an avid historian she documented her family’s genealogy in vast volumes on her and Bob's families. She treasured photographs, making scrapbooks and sharing them with her family. She loved the outdoors and went camping, hunting and fishing with Bob, family and friends. They both enjoyed traveling and went on many wonderful trips. In June of 2007, Ruth and Bob moved into town and sold their family farm.
Ruth was never too busy to help others when needed and volunteered in all kinds of community activities. Ruth was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and stayed active in the Ladies Aid, Dorcus Group and other church functions. Ruth was a member of VFW Auxiliary 3449 since 1976, she became a lifetime member on June 21, 2016 and received her 40-year membership pin. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society, Diehards Friends Group at Cedar Bluff Lake, she was also a lifetime member of Eagles. Ruth volunteered for Hospice of Trego County.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two sons, John Eric and Marion Douglas Critser, two daughters, infant daughter, Pearl M. Critser and Audrey L. Macke, seven brothers, Roland, LeRoy, Ervin, Clarence, Gerhardt, Ray Jr. and Wilbur Nuss, four sisters, Josephine Sutton, Irene Ledford, Berneice Hillman and Ruby Manweiler.
Ruth is survived by three loving daughters, Lorine (Jim) Kuhn of Kingsland, TX, Connie (Ron) Herdt of Smith Center, Nancy (Ron) Nichol of Hill City; a sister, Virginia (Carl) Harmony of Great Bend, 18 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.
Private family services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS, with Pastor Randy Hill officiating. Burial will take place in WaKeeney City Cemetery, WaKeeney, KS, Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 3:30 p.m.
A public celebration of Ruth's life will be scheduled at a later date.