- Date Of Birth: September 8, 1922
- Date Of Death: December 10, 2011
- State: Nebraska
402-768-6165
When Paul & Emilie (Malchow)Krause lived southwest of Ellis, NE, they had a daughter on September 8, 1922, whom they named Ruth Hertha. Ruth died Saturday December 10, 2011 at the Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln, NE at the age of 89 years.
Ruth was baptized in 1922 in the Zion Lutheran Church northeast of Harbine, NE and was confirmed in the same church in 1936. They lived 7 miles east of Fairbury on a farm where Ruth attended school at Rock Creek. Then they moved to a farm 3 miles west and 3 miles north of Mahaska, KS where she finished school at Prairie Chapel and attended the Zion Lutheran Church in Hubbell, NE. Ruth worked at the Fairbury Hatchery.
Ruth married Lavern Wit on January 21, 1946 in Belleville, KS. Delbert Lavern their oldest was born while they were living on a farm 2 miles north of Hubbell. Shortly after that they moved into town where they had two more sons, Lloyd Lynn and Raymond Lee. Ruth’s most important job was being a mother but would clean houses, babysat, worked at the Hubbell school, cooked at Footes Cafe in Chester, and anything else that would come up to help bring in some money. Later she worked as a cook and janitor at the C-H-B School. Ruth wasn’t afraid of work and helped all of her boys with home improvement projects until she was in her early 80’s. In 2003, Ruth went to live at the Blue Valley Lutheran Nursing Home in Hebron, NE where she served as the head of the Resident Council for a few years. Ruth kept busy with all kinds of crafts, playing games and bossing the nurses around!!
She loved going to the Casino and attending her grandchildren’s ball games and school activities. She was able to watch her grandson, Jacob play at the Shrine Bowl at Memorial Stadium in 2006.
Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, husband Lavern, sister Hilda Rothmeyer, brothers Albert Krause and Harvey Krause.
She is survived by her 3 sons and their families: Delbert and Connie Wit of Commerce City, CO; Lloyd and Laveta Wit of Byron, NE, and Raymond and Dawn Wit of Chester, NE. Grandchildren: Justin and Sara Wit of Commerce City, CO; John and Susan Wit of Bastrop, LA; Joshua and Sabreana Wit of Byron, NE; Casey and Kristy Wit of Tonganoxie, KS; Angie Wit of Hebron, NE; Tyler and Ashley Wit; Jacob Wit and Trevor Wit all of Chester, NE. Great-grandchildren: Andrew Wit, Brooklynn Wit, Ashlynn Wit, Annabelle Wit, Amanda, Alisha, Robin and Patrick Petty of Bastrop, LA; great-great-children: Ashton Little, and Kyleigh Petty both of Bastrop, LA, brothers: Melvin Krause of Concordia, KS and Leon Krause of Byron, NE and sisters-in-law Loetta Krause and Rose Krause both of Hebron, NE, many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
