Ruth Janet Alleman (née Belke) was carried to heaven in the arms of her Lord and Savior this past Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, following complications incurred due to a fall suffered on May 29. She was 97 years of age.
Ruth was born March 25, 1919, in Sparta, Wis. She was the daughter of Herman and Margaret Belke and the youngest of four brothers and three sisters.
Ruth was baptized and later confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sparta.
In 1925, the Belke family moved back to the family farm in the town of Big Creek, Monroe County, Wis. Ruth often reminisced about the hardships of rural farm life, but never complained about living in a home without electricity, indoor plumbing or central heat.
After graduating from Sparta High School in 1937, Ruth was employed in La Crosse. She later moved to Milwaukee, Wis., where she attended the Le Clair Beauty School. Upon graduation in 1940, Ruth worked as a beautician until 1977 at salons in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Wis., and West Allis, Wis.
She married Ray M. Alleman on Jan. 19, 1946, in Wauwatosa. Their only child, David, was born in 1954, and in 1957 the family moved to West Allis.
In 1976, Ruth and Ray purchased land east of Eagle River on Highway 70, in the town of Washington. After building a home, the couple relocated to the property in April 1977.
There they also built a convenience store business named Alleman’s Wayside Store, which opened for business in August 1977.
Ruth and Ray worked tirelessly to create a successful business, which due to Ray’s declining health, was sold by the couple to their son in 1982. Ruth continued to work in the store in varying capacities, up until the time that the business was sold in 2007.
Ruth then lived with her son, David, and his wife, Kathleen. Due to her age related needs, she moved to Milestone Senior Living in Eagle River in late 2014.
On April 16, 2016, Ruth relocated to Rennes Health and Rehab Center in Rhinelander, Wis. She was residing there at the time of her death.
She was a faithful member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eagle River for 39 years. Ruth was also a member of the Eagle River Hospital Auxiliary, volunteering at the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop for 30 years.
Ruth outlived her parents and all of her older siblings. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray, in 1987.
She is survived by and will be sadly missed by her son, David, and his wife, Kathleen; four grandchildren, Lisa Butcher, Kelly (Andy) Sobczak, Kelsey (Chris) Riegel and Matthew Hess; five great-grandchildren; seven nieces, three nephews, and other relatives and friends.
The family especially wishes to thank Pastors Philip Gieschen and Joshua Odell of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church for ministering to Ruth during her last days.
The family also sincerely thanks the staff of Milestone Senior Living and Rennes Health and Rehab Center for the excellent care provided to Ruth over the past two years.
Memorials in Ruth’s name may be given to Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Private services of comfort for the family were held this past Friday at Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home in Eagle River, with Pastor Philip Gieschen officiating.
Ruth was a selfless, content and uncomplaining Christian woman. James 1:17 — Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Online condolences may be expressed at gaffney-busha.
com.
Arrangements by Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River.
PAID OBITUARY
