Ruth L. Obert

Ruth Louise Heitschmidt Obert was born to Nicholas and Othelia Heitschmidt on February 4, 1920 in Osborne County, Kansas. She died Saturday, October 21, 2006 at the Hilltop Lodge in Beloit at the age of 86 years, 8 months, and 17 days.
She graduated from Covert Rural High School in 1938 and received her normal training certificate from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. She then taught in rural schools in Osborne County.
On May 26, 1944 she married Wilbur Obert at a friend's home in Nampa, Idaho. Following Wilbur's discharge from the Air Force they moved to their farm home south of Esbon in Jewell County, Kansas. Here Ruth enjoyed gardening, raising flowers and helping Wilbur with their sheep and in the fields. Ruth was the pianist and Sunday School Teacher at Odessa United Methodist Church for many years. She also was the Odessa/Dentonia Correspondent for the Jewell County Record and the Lebanon Times newspapers. In later years Ruth did some substitute teaching at Esbon Grade School. Following her and Wilbur's retirement from the farm and their move to Lebanon, Kansas, Ruth worked as a part-time clerk at C&R Hardware in Lebanon and was the caretaker for Cedars of Lebanon Housing for several years.
Ruth's biggest joy was time spent with family and she thoroughly loved following her children's and grandchildren's sports and musical events through the years. Ruth and Wilbur lived in Lebanon until their health declined and they moved to Beloit, Kansas. Here Ruth was able to continue her water aerobics and also enjoyed meeting new friends at the Beloit Senior Center for lunch every day. She looked forward to her weekly Metallic Bible Study at the Beloit Christian Church and visited Wilbur at Hilltop Lodge almost daily. Finally when she was no longer able to be alone, she joined Wilbur at Hilltop. She was pleased that her brother, Herb, lived just down the hall from her and Wilbur.
Ruth was preceded in death by her oldest son Mark, her parents, Nick and Tillie Heitschmidt, her brother Harold Heitschmidt, her sister Dorothy and husband Dale Tanner; and sister-in-law Edna Heitschmidt.
She leaves to mourn her passing her husband of 62 years, Wilbur, of Beloit, her daughter Dixie and husband Ken Larson of Kearney, NE; her son Steven of Roseland, NE; and her daughter Jeanette and husband Charlie Luke of Beloit. She also leaves 9 grandchildren, Brian Obert of Austin, Tx; Justin Obert of Ft Collins, CO; Ryan (and Jaye) Luke of Fresno, CA; Cassie Luke of Ft. Collins, CO; Nick Luke of Manhattan, KS; Brady Luke of Beloit, KS; Ben (and Nichole) Larson of Omaha, NE; Kristen Larson of Phoenix, AZ; and Haley Larson of Lincoln, NE; her brother Herbert Heitschmidt of Beloit and sister-in-law Wilma Heitschmidt of Watertown, SD; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Monday, October 23 at the Beloit First Christian Church with burial in Esbon Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Beloit Senior Center or Donor's Choice. Visitation will be from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday at the McDonald Funeral Home.