Ruth Peterson

Ruth Peterson was a woman devoted to her family and her faith. A schoolteacher for many years, she took great pride in the varied successes of her students. Time spent with her family was most important to Ruth, whether entertaining friends and family in her home, or skiing down the mountains of California with her children. She was a generous and fun-loving woman, with a twinkle in her eye that sparkled all through her life.

Ruth Peterson was born on July 21, 1919, in Chicago Illinois. There was much unrest in Chicago during this time. On the afternoon of July 27, just days after her birth, race riots erupted in the city over the death of a young black man. The 1919 World Series resulted in the biggest scandal in baseball when the Chicago White Sox (later named the Black Sox), with the infamous “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, were accused of throwing the series against the Cincinnati Reds. And on the day of Ruth’s birth, the dirigible “Winged Foot Express” burned and fell through the skylight of the Illinois Trust and Savings.

Born the third child of Gustav and Emma Able, Ruth spent her youth growing up in the windy city. Her father Gustav was a Lutheran schoolteacher and planted the seeds for Ruth’s own career as a teacher. Her mother, Emma was a homemaker, instilling in Ruth a love for home and family. The Abel’s were fortunate to live near downtown Chicago, and Ruth and her friends would often walk to the heart of the city to enjoy the many sights and sounds. Their neighborhood was a predominately Catholic neighborhood, with the Abel’s being the only Lutheran family. Ruth and her friends considered it a “big deal” that they could play together. With a love for animals that would last all her life, Ruth always had a pet at home. She often told the story of her mother calling up to the kids at night to make sure the family dog, Penny, was not in bed with them. They would haul the dog out from under the covers, hold her above their heads, and answer, “No, she is not in bed.”

Ruth attended Peace Lutheran Grade School and graduated from high school in Chicago. She was very musically talented and played the piano, violin, and sang in the high school choir . With a love for teaching instilled by her father, Ruth went on to Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois, and graduated with a teaching degree in Elementary Education. With an innate sense of adventure, she set off for California for her first teaching job. She stayed in California for several years, and then moved to Grand Rapids to care for her sister Gertrude, whose health was failing. She was able to find a teaching job at Stocking Elementary School and remained there for many years, enjoying her students and her job.

During this time, Ruth was introduced to her future husband by mutual friends while downhill skiing at the Grand Rapids Ski Club. This was in the winter of 1959, and on August 20, 1960, Ruth and Robert were married. They were both in their forties, but true love knows no age limit. Ruth always said that the best day of her life was the day she married Bob.

They moved into Ruth’s house on Shawmut Boulevard and their home was often the setting for socializing and entertaining. Ruth loved to set a beautiful table with her good china and crystal, and needed little encouragement to start the festivities. They had several parties – simply because it was Election Day. Bob and Ruth had many similar interests and together they spent many happy times skiing and camping out west. Having enjoyed each other’s company for 4 years, Ruth and Bob decided it was time for a family. They adopted their son Mark in 1964 and their daughter Melissa in 1966.

Ruth was very involved in her children’s lives and activities. She shared her talents as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout Leader, and worked with the PTA. Even though she was in her 50’s, she could run circles around the younger mothers in the groups. She could ride roller coasters, whiz down a hill on a toboggan, or camp out in the wilderness with the best of them – and her children loved her for it.

Ruth was a woman of many interests and possessed a great sense of humor. She had always had a love for music and especially enjoyed classical music. She had a sweet tooth for black licorice and loved to be around people.

Her Lutheran faith was most important to Ruth; she was very involved in the Immanuel Lutheran Church and sang in the choir. Her favorite hymn was “Onward, Christian Soldiers”. It was imperative that her children be raised in the Lutheran faith and daughter Melissa remembers a saying her parents often quoted: “Be a Lutheran, a Republican, and don’t drive foreign cars.”

Ruth’s beloved Bob passed away in 1991 and she had a very difficult time adjusting to this loss. Then in 1994, her home was nearly destroyed in a fire – with only the pets being saved.

Ruth I. Peterson, age 84, passed away on December 17, 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; sisters Gertrude and Esther; and brother Adalbert. She is survived by her children, Mark Peterson, and Melissa Peterson; grandchildren. Steven, Stefani, and Mark Peterson; several nieces and nephews; and many special friends. The funeral service for Ruth will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday December 20, 2003 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2 Michigan St. NE. Relatives and friends may meet her family at the Alt & Shawmut Hills Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW on Friday December 19, 2003 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Interment will take place in Rosedale Memorial Park. Please visit Ruth’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read her life story, order flowers, or make a contribution to Immanuel Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.

“Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,

Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.

Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the king,

This through countless ages men and angels sing.”

- from “Onward, Christian Soldiers”