Ruth Elmer, 89, Bismarck, died September 7, 2008, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 13, at First United Methodist Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Phyl Putz, Rev. Kermit Culver and Rev. Walter Schott officiating. Burial will be in the United Methodist Cemetery, Hebron.
Visitation will be held from noon until 9 p.m. Friday, September 12, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. with Rev. Clyde Leimberer officiating. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Ruth Martha Elmer was born May 31, 1919, in Hebron, ND, the third child of John and Emilie (Wildi) Elmer. She was raised and educated in Hebron and graduated from Hebron High School in 1937. Ruth graduated from Jamestown College in 1941 and then taught school for one year in Elgin, ND. She taught high school English at Red Bird Mission in Beverly, KY, for four years, and in 1946 enrolled in Chinese Studies at Yale University, Oriental Institute. In the fall of 1947, Ruth left for China as a missionary with the Evangelical United Brethren Church. She taught in a girls' high school until 1949, when Christian missionaries were forced to leave China. Ruth went on to Japan, where she served as a missionary for 35 years with the United Methodist Church. While in Japan, she taught English and Bible in college and seminary settings.
Ruth moved to Bismarck in 1983, and after completing a year of deputation retired from missionary service in 1984. In her retirement years, Ruth was active as a member of First United Methodist Church, taught many Bible classes and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
Ruth is survived by: her brother, Harold (Alma), Honolulu, HI; one sister-in-law, Viola Elmer, Bismarck, ND; many nieces, nephews and dear friends in both North America and Japan.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Helen Unruh, Wilma Cook and Esther Lawson; and one brother, Rev. Walter Elmer.
Go to (www.eastgatefuneral.com) to share memories of Ruth and sign the online guestbook.
(Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck)