Ruth Slagter, of Montevideo, died Saturday, September 20, 2014 at Luther Haven Nursing Home at the age of 92.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 11:00 am at Hope Reformed Church in Montevideo. Rev. Louis Ford will officiate and interment will be at the Holland Township Cemetery in Prinsburg, MN.
Visitation will be held at Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 from 5 to 7 PM. Arrangements are with Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo.
Ruth Henrietta Slagter was born December 12, 1921 to Garrit and Grace Ledeboer Roelofs on a farm near Prinsburg, MN. She was baptized and made profession of her faith in the 1st Christian Reformed church at Prinsburg. She attended the Christian school at Prinsburg through the 8th grade. Ruth graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa in 1940. She was trained and worked as a psychiatric aide for 4 years at Pine Rest Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She attended the Reformed Bible Institute (now Kuyper College) in Grand Rapids, MI from 1944-1946 majoring in Bible and Music with the intention of becoming a missionary. Ruth was united in marriage to Norman Slagter in 1948. Ruth and Norman were blessed with four daughters and one son. Ruth worked as an aide at Luther Haven in Montevideo and as a classroom aide at Sanford Elementary School. Ruth enjoyed music and sang solos and in groups throughout her lifetime. She played organ and piano for over seventy years at every church she attended. Ruth taught Sunday School and was active in the women’s groups and Gideon’s Auxiliary.
Ruth accompanied Norman to many conferences related to his work as Director of Family Services and on numerous Navy reunions throughout the country. Together they went on tours to Germany and Hawaii. Ruth and Norman also delivered Meals on Wheels into their 80's. Following Norm’s death in 2005 Ruth continued her volunteer work in the community. She donated blood regularly and made calls for the Red Cross until this past year. Ruth enjoyed playing scrabble with her friend Pat, going to Community Concerts and High School activities with her friend JoAnn, and playing Skipbo with Jackie. She also enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles. She took many trips with family members and especially enjoyed the summer vacations at Bug Bee Hive Resort. Ruth was an avid walker, enjoying the outdoors. At 89, she was the oldest member of Curves. Ruth moved to Brookside Manor in 2008. After a fall in 2011, she decided to make Luther Haven her home. Ruth kept current on the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ruth is survived by four daughters: Nancy (Arvin) Schoep of Earlton, NY, Kay Westlie of Willmar, MN, Susan Slagter (Jeff Dean) of Reno, NV and Sheila Molde of St. Cloud, MN; seven grandchildren: Jim (Thea) Schoep, Angela (Mark) Schoep Weirich, Zachary Westlie, Luke Westlie (Nikki Wertish), Jake (Kim ) Westlie, Joseph (Carly Dooley) Molde, and Adam Molde; five great-grandchildren: Samuel and Megan Schoep, Ella and Lily Weirich, Jude Westlie, and one arriving shortly; two brothers: Reynold (Albertha) Roelofs of Renville, MN and Donald (Doris) Roelofs of Prinsburg, MN; two sisters: Marcella (Henry) VanDyke, of Leota, MN and Janice (Merlin) Kleinhuizen of Willmar, MN; a sister-in-law, Leona Roelofs of Danube, MN; a brother-in-law, Gerald Zylstra of Willmar, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Norman in 2005; a son, James Paul in 1962; a sister, Ella Mae Zylstra, a brother Henry Roelefs; and a son-in-law, Steven Molde.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be given to the Gideons or Hope Reformed Church.