Ruth E. Wilber
Obituary for Ruth E. Wilber | Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home
December 17, 1932 ~ September 14, 2022 (age 89)
Ruth Wilber departed her loving family on September 14, 2022. Ruth was born in Belleville, Kansas on December 17, 1932, to Lela and Ralph Fraser. She was the youngest daughter of four children and adored her big brothers Gerald (Pat) and Ray (Jeannie), and sister Mary (Richard Shinn and Bill Bruchie).
She loved riding her horse, Dandy, in and around the farm south of Belleville where she grew up.
She was a lifetime member of the Central Christian Church, actively serving in Sunday school, quilting, and the women fellowship groups.
She was united in marriage on July 29,1951 to the love of her life, Charles Wilber. Together they raised five children, James, Rebecca, Charlotte, Susan, and Daniel with love and devotion on a dairy farm, less than a mile away from where she was raised.
Ruth and Charles not only shared raising a family but also shared the many duties of operating a dairy farm. Ruth could be found working in the dairy barn as often as in the kitchen -- cooking one of her fabulous pies or canning jellies and jams. She continued to enjoy riding horses, joining the family in many adventuresome trail rides. Ruth loved spending time with her family, and especially delighted in her grandchildren. After selling the dairy farm, Ruth enjoyed gardening, and raising dairy goats, and hand-milked many goats during this time.
She is preceded in death, by her parents, siblings and their spouses, husband Charles, son James, and daughter-in-law Marti (Valek) Wilber.
She is survived by her children Rebecca (Craig) Lewis, Charlotte (Blake) Sullivan, Susan (Zach) Thomas, and Dan Wilber; her grandchildren Zachary Gagnon (Lindsay), Leah Gagnon (Caleb Lackey), Whitney (Sullivan) (Casey Schwineinger), Audrey Sullivan, Shane Sullivan, Lucas Bergstrom, Sam Thomas, Cameron Wilber, and Tobi Wilber; as well as six great-grandchildren; an “adopted” daughter, Sarah Taylor-Bergstrom; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Life Service will be held at Central Christian Church on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 10:30 a.m., with Pastor Jacob Rice, officiating.
Family inurnment will be held at a later date at Pleasant View Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Central Christian Church, North Central Kansas Health Care Foundation, or the Belleville Health Care Center can be made in Ruth’s name.
Friends may sign the register book from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday, September 23, 2022 at the Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home and prior to the services on Saturday at the Church.
Online condolences at www.bachelor-surber .com.
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, Kansas is in charge of the arrangements.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ruth E. Wilber, please visit our floral store.