Obituary of Ruth Palmer

Ruth Marie Palmer, 79, was born in Hutchinson, Kansas on November 1, 1931 to John Arthur and Anna Emelie Hubenett. She grew up on a farm in Rice County, was confirmed in Andover Lutheran Church and valedictorian of Little River High School's class of 1947. After earning a Teaching Certificate from Bethany College, she taught elementary school in Plainville and Hutchinson, Kansas. In 1957, she went to work as a parish worker at St Paul Lutheran Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming. There she met Bruce Palmer. After a whirlwind romance, they were married at Andover Lutheran Church on the 28th of March 1958. In 1962, they became parents with the arrival of Donald Gordon. In 1963, their second son Richard Morris was born. In 1965, they moved to Houston, Texas, where they spent much of their married life. Ruth was a tireless mother and homemaker, Cub Scout Den Mother, PTA member and an earnest fan at swim meets, band concerts and football games. She always had homemade cookies in the cookie jar and tomatoes or roses growing in the back yard. Ruth and her husband enjoyed many travels. They journeyed to Europe several times, to Asia, and within the USA. Throughout their life together, they made a great number of automobile tours across the United States. In retirement, they took cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and through the Panama Canal. In 1991, following Bruce's retirement, they moved back to Kansas and built a home outside Lindsborg, where they became active in the Lindsborg community, Bethany College, and Bethany Church. In 2007, they left Kansas for Houston once again. After a period of declining health, Ruth passed away peacefully on New Year's Day of 2011. Ruth will always be remembered for her sweet, gentle nature. She loved sewing, cooking, and nurturing her family. She was fond of her home state and was forever dedicated to her church, family and friends. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Bruce and her parents. She is survived by sons Donald and Richard, daughters-in-law Mary and Roxanne, grandchildren Emelie, Andrés, Emiliano, and Jack Palmer, sister, Lois Creed, brother, Paul Hubenett, nephews Dale, John, and Brad Creed and Eric, Mike, Kirk, and Phil Hubenett. Visitation will be held Sunday, January 9, from 4-7 p.m. at Christians Funeral Home, Lindsborg. A funeral service celebrating Ruth's life will be conducted at 10:00AM, Monday, the 10th of January at Bethany Lutheran Church, Lindsborg, KS. Burial will be at Andover Cemetery in Windom, KS at 12:30 p.m. Memorials may be designated to the Ruth Lynner Palmer Music Scholarship Fund at Bethany College or the Alzheimer's Association, both in care of Christians Funeral Home 103 N. Washington P.O. Box 386 Lindsborg, KS 67456. Online condolences at www.christiansfuneralhome.com