Ruth Kirkpatrick

Biography

Ruth Kathryn (Whitcomb) Kirkpatrick, age 90, of Gothenburg, Nebraska passed away July 28, 2007 at Gothenburg.

Ruth was born February 22, 1917 in Yuma County Colorado to George and Maud (Ivey) Whitcomb.

Ruth graduated from Oxford High School in Oxford, Nebraska in 1936. Following graduation she attended Kearney Normal School (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney) receiving her teaching certificate. Ruth then taught school for one year in 1938 and worked as a telephone operator in 1939.

On July 17, 1939 Ruth married Lewis Wayne Kirkpatrick in Orleans, Nebraska. To this union four children where born. The couple made their home in North Platte from 1939 to 1941, Scottsbluff from 1941 to 1945, and Gothenburg from 1945 to present.

Ruth was a member of the Gothenburg United Methodist Church were she was very active in the Women's Club, Evening Circle, Utile Dulce, Funeral Committee, Church Building Committee, and a former Board Trustee. Ruth was an accomplished pianist, and a very talented seamstress. She made numerous costumes for the Community Theater, her children and grandchildren. Ruth was a wonderful homemaker and the primary caregiver for her mother and father-in law for many years.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a brother, McClellan, and a granddaughter, Katie Ivey Huckfeldt.

Ruth is survived by her children, Steven and wife Kimberlyn Kirkpatrick of Simi Valley, CA, Dennis and wife Susan Kirkpatrick of Gothenburg, NE, Cheryl and husband James Sanders of Wabasha, MN, and Kimberly and husband Bruce Huckfeldt of Chadron, NE, one sister, Grace Draper, of Grand Junction, CO. Also surviving are ten grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren, Jonathan and wife Kim Sanders and their children Jonathan and Whitney of Webb City, MO; Kirk and wife Connie Sanders and their children Matthew, Benjamin, Timothy, Marcus, and Ruth of Lincoln, NE; Andrew and wife Amy Sanders and their children Zachary, Evan, Maxwell, and Coleman of Omaha, NE; Nathan Kirkpatrick of Colorado Springs, CO; Michael Kirkpatrick (Bonnie Kelch) and Michael's sons Hunter, and Michael of Kearney, NE; Dorian Kirkpatrick (Sarah Dullinger) of Englewood, CO, Alexander Kirkpatrick (Jessica Davis) of Loveland, CO; Nicholas Kirkpatrick of Englewood, CO, Hannah Huckfeldt of Chadron, NE, and Halcyon and husband Jared McIntyre and their daughter Eris of Salt Lake City, UT.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday August 1, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at the Gothenburg First United Methodist Church with Reverend Randy Dilts, officiating.

Visitation will be held Tuesday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg.

Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church 1401 Lake Ave. Gothenburg, NE 69138.