- Date Of Birth: June 22, 1915
- Date Of Death: December 11, 2016
- State: New Mexico
RUTH JOSEPHINE LAMBERT BERG, died peacefully at age 101 with family at her side. She was a resident of Sunset Villa Care Center in Roswell, NM.
Ruth was born in Chicago, IL June 22, 1915 to Dr. Joseph S. Lambert and Emilie B. Lambert. “Ruthie” was the sixth of seven children. Aspiring to also become a doctor, she attended the University of Illinois, Urbana as a chemistry major until finances ran out during the depression years. Ruth met Berthil Verner Berg working at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair where she was cashier at the same pavilion where Bert engineered the first TV exposition. They married in Chicago May 16, 1936. Ruth made her own wedding gown, and she wore it again at their Golden Anniversary celebration in 1986. Their 55-year odyssey wove through Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania before settling in Alamogordo in 1954, and ending upon Bert’s death in 1991.
Gardening and community were Ruth’s greatest passions outside of family. In her beloved backyard, she raised turtles, neighborhood kids and an eclectic flower garden. She applied her good nature and quick wit working with youth through PTA, Girl Scouting, Sunday School, school board and the Alamo Teen Center which she helped found. She helped senior citizens through the Senior Center, Mayor’s Council on aging, RSVP and meals-on wheels.
Ruth was a member of the Otero County Cow-belles, an election judge, and a charter member of the hospital auxiliary.
Ruth was rarely seen in recent years without a hat. Her love of hats began when she was diagnosed with macular degeneration. She said that hats helped her see better. She had some 50 hats in her collection.
