Ruth Emma Bauer passed away August 26th, 2020 in Sioux Falls, SD, just two weeks shy of 99 years of age.

She was born September 10, 1921 in Herkimer, KS to Armin and Emma (Funke) Slupianek. She attended Marysville High School and secretarial school.

Always a dedicated employee, she worked in the legislature and a local bank before jumping on a train to Glendale, California to work for the Bank of America during World War II. She also worked for banks in Colome, Winner and Rapid City, SD.

Normally a rule-follower, Ruthie and colleagues were once called into the president's office for violating the bank's dress code for pretending to wear nylons by drawing a black line down the back of their legs. More recently, and without her family's knowledge, Ruth destroyed the love letters from this era, which demonstrated her great penmanship and interest in a dancing partner, Navy pilot and soon-to-be husband.

Ruth married Lt. Lawrence Albert Bauer on January 2nd, 1946 and they moved to Valley Falls, KS, where she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior, was baptised and they started their new career in farming and ranching.

In February of 1948, Ruth and Larry welcomed daughter Cathy Jo. Ruth and Larry miscarried one son. They always lived in close proximity to their three grandkids and five great grandkids, attending every family event, folding lots of laundry, cooking many Sunday dinners, and taking responsibility for all the puppies her family would give to her.

Ruth, being versatile and integral, was known to wear a plastic bag over her hair while milking 60 head of cattle, to remain presentable for arriving at the bank. She also maintained a hospitable home for workers and guests, was active at church, drove a truck for combining crews, and pulled pigs (if she wasn't chasing them with a shovel for eating her tulip bulbs).

Ruth was a steadfast and complimentary wife, as their life and work took them through Valley Falls and Marysville, KS; Mosher, Colome, Witten, Rapid City, Harrisburg and Sioux Falls, SD. They remained happily married for 65 years until Larry passed in 2011.

I'm sure Jesus rolled his eyes, when Grandma Ruth informed Him they wouldn't be needing the extra twin bed up there, one small bed will do, unless they could store all the boxes of grapefruit from Texas there (a common practice of theirs in the RV).

Despite her demand to be buried with her Johnny Cash vinyls, Ruth was cremated, and at a future date will join the remains of her husband at the Black Hills National Cemetery.

Ruth is survived by daughter Cathy Koch, Grandchildren Amy (Fred) Preator, Carrie (Mark) Schmidt, and Scott Koch; great grandchildren Allison & Macy Preator, William, Etta & Selah Schmidt. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and sister.

There is not a stronger example of Jesus Christ's servant leadership on earth, than the soul and spirit that Ruth Bauer demonstrated. She will be dearly missed on this side of Heaven.

There will be an open house celebration of Ruth's life on Saturday, September 19th. Contact any family member for details. Please no gifts or donations.

Special Thanks to Luther Manor nursing home and their fantastic staff for their heart-felt care for Ruth. She was always eager to get back "home" to you all. We couldn't have asked for anything better. God bless you.