Ruth E. Meyer

Ruth Elaine Meyer, 95, of Sabetha, Kansas died peacefully on Sunday, November 5, 2023, in her home at the Apostolic Christian West Village in Sabetha.

Ruth was born January 13, 1928, to Dewey and Susie (Ersham) Strahm.  Ruth was raised on a farm in northern Nemaha County not far from Bern, Kansas.  She attended school in Bern and graduated from Bern High School.  Following graduation, she took courses from Emporia State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas and from Kansas State College in Manhattan, Kansas to be qualified to teach for two years in the Union Rural and Eureka School Districts. 

Ruth married Fremond Meyer in 1947 and began her real career as a farm wife, mother, and partner. To this union were born four children, Lynn, Don, Janet, and Rob.  Ruth joined the Berwick Home Benefit Unit in 1951, two years after the unit was first organized in 1949 and has been a member of this unit for the past 72 years. 

In the late 1950’s, the two oldest Meyer boys joined 4-H, and eventually all of Ruth’s children were involved with 4-H.  Ruth not only served sixteen years as the community leader of the Lucky Clover 4-H Club, but was also a project leader, being the mother of a bachelor cooking club for the boys. 

One of the unique accomplishments during Ruth’s tenure as president of the Homemaker Council was the creation of the “Nemaha County United Charities.”  This was a unique project designed to save time and energy for everyone because it collected donations for all the charities in a one-time effort rather than having multiple drives, and it covered all the cities and rural communities in the county. 

One of Ruth’s many interests was making wagon wheel rugs from old jeans which she generously shared with friends and families—an original recycler.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fremond; her sons, Lynn and Don; her daughter-in law, Marianne Meyer; her grandson, Abraham Meyer; and her brother, Gene Strahm.

Ruth is survived by her daughter, Janet Meyer of Wichita, Kansas and her son, Robert (Gayle) of Sabetha; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.