Ruth Elaine Nelson was born July 1, 1947, in Clearfield, Iowa to her parents Horace Nelson and Helen Johnston Nelson. Ruth passed away on September 10, 2024, due to effects of vascular dementia. Ruth is survived by her husband of 56 years, Robert (Bob) Stowe, daughters Megan Stowe (Stephen Schad, sons Galen and Desmond Schad), Michelle Stowe McCormack (Randy McCormack and son Miles McCormack), brothers Eugene Nelson, Leroy Nelson (Mary), and Randall Nelson, her sister and brothers in law Elizabeth Stowe Weitzel (Raymond) and Andrew Stowe (Janet), nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Horace and Helen Nelson, stillborn brother Ronald, sister-in-law Sherri Klejch Nelson, nephew Michael Stowe, as well as aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
Ruth survived several different diseases, Ruth’s life was not defined by illnesses, but by her faith’s directive to do as much good as she could, for as many as she could, for as long as she could. Ruth had compassion for the lost, the least, and those left behind. She chaired Missions committees for the First United Methodist Church of Gillette’s for 20 years and the Wyoming District of the United Methodist Church of the Rocky Mountain Conference for 5 years. Ruth and Bob went on Mission Trips throughout the United States as well as three mission trips to Costa Rica.
Ruth grew up on the family farm, south of Clearfield, IA. Ruth was active in the local county 4-H unit and was the first chair playing flute in the high school band. Ruth attended the University of Iowa. In her first semester, she was in two classes with her eventual husband, Bob. Ruth and Bob were married in August before their senior year of college. Ruth graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics in 1969.
Ruth worked for 28 years at the Campbell County Public Library, predominantly processing discards and entering new books into the State of Wyoming’s Library System. She loved reading all the new books’ flaps, writing recommendations in the local Sunday newspaper.
Ruth and Bob enjoyed traveling, visiting 47 states, and traveling to Europe, the Holy Lands, Kenya and Peru. She loved cross-stitch, quilt wall hangings and table runners, copper metal punching, plotting her dream home’s floor plans, play piano and flute, and spending time with her three grandsons. Her Texas sheet cake was a favorite at church potlucks. Ruth’s sense of humor flourished following her first stroke. She will be missed. Well done, good and faithful servant.
The family appreciates the care she received from Caring Edge Hospice and the staff at Edgewood Aspen Wind.
Calling hours will be Thursday September 12 from 4 to 6 pm at First United Methodist Church, 108 East 18th St, Cheyenne. A Celebration of Life will take place at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 17, 2024 in United Methodist Church, located in Gillette, WY.
In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to First United Methodist Church’s Missions Committee (200 W. Lakeway Rd, Gillette, WY 82718) or United Methodist Committee on Relief (Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068).
The funeral will take place at First United Methodist Church in Gillette, WY (2000 West Lakeway Rd.) on Tuesday September 17th at 11 am