Ruth Flora Peterson

Ruth Hillebrenner Peterson, 86, passed tranquilly on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 in her home in Garden City, MO.

Ruth is survived by her sister Lorene Ballew, daughter Jeanette Metzler and husband Randy; her sons Mike Peterson and wife Teresa, and Jim Peterson and wife Carrie; her grandchildren, Jamie Peterson, Tim Shonkwiler, Lindsey Constance, Andrew and Alison Paffen, Mary, Steven, Nick, Owen and Tucker Peterson and great grandchildren, Jessalyn Smith and Lucy Constance.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Donald Peterson, and her daughters, Susan Peterson and Rebecca Paffen.

Born on December 22, 1928 in Concordia, MO, Ruth was the daughter of Robert and Laura Hillebrenner and lived in Sweet Springs, MO. She graduated from Sweet Springs High School, where she was a star on the basketball court. She later moved to Shawnee, Kansas where she raised her 5 children with a generous spirit and a foundation in faith, love, and kindness. She was dynamically involved in her community for over 40 years through involvement in Eastern Star and as a Sunday school teacher at Bristol Hill Methodist Church. In 1991, Ruth and her husband Don surprised the family by purchasing a farm in Garden City, MO where they were known for their crops of berries and asparagus, and even experimented with peanuts, pumpkins and chrysanthemums. In Garden City, Ruth was actively involved with the United Methodist Womens organization and Eastern Star. Ruth loved to dance! She and Don were very active in the Hilltop Spinners square dancing club and also loved swing, ballroom and line dancing. She stayed young by rarely missing Friday and Saturday night dances with Don. Ruth had an energetic and adventurous spirit and enjoyed going on cruises and road trips, being proud to have visited every state! Family and faith were very important to Ruth. She loved people for who they were, showing compassion, forgiveness and generosity, and always finding the very best in others. Friends and family adored Ruths gentle, loving spirit and contagious laugh, and because of her strong commitment to family, they gathered together often for holidays and birthdays, which always brought a huge smile to her face. Ruth Peterson had an unwavering faith in God that provided her with the strength, resiliency and determination to continue moving forward, even in the most difficult of times.

Funeral services were held Friday, June 12, 2015 at the United Methodist Church, Garden City, Missouri.

Graveside were held Friday, June 12, 2015 at the Shawnee Cemetery, Shawnee, Kansas. The family suggest that Memorial Contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, Garden City, Missouri.