Ruth Bovenmyer (1928-2020)

BOVENMYER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 4/9/2020 at 15:05:34

Ruth Bovenmyer, 91, a life-long resident of Buchanan County, died at her home of complications of Alzheimer’s disease Wednesday morning, March 25, 2020.

Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will not be having a public visitation or service at this time. There will be an announcement when services will be held at a later date. We encourage relatives and friends to reach out to the family by leaving a message on the funeral home web site, by mail, text or phone.

Memorials may be designated to Silver Creek Methodist Church, Camp Courageous or Cedar Valley Hospice.

Ruth Virginia Bovenmyer was born to Roy and Hazel (Phillips) Stimson on the family farm near Coggon, Sept. 7, 1928. She died at home, on the family farm of fifty years, just east of Monti.

Ruth graduated from Troy Mills High School and spent a year serving as a nanny. She attended Cedar Falls teacher’s college and received a teaching certificate in 1948. She taught a year at Oak Grove School near Palo and a year at Monti Consolidated school.

Ruth met the love of her life, Leon Bovenmyer, in the spring of 1949 and they were married April 2, 1950 at Troy Mills Methodist Church. They farmed west of Walker for two years, moved to a farm southeast of Winthrop for sixteen years, and finally to the present farm east of Monti. Ruth loved the land and once wrote, “I hope that I can live on the farm all of my life.”

Ruth devoted her early years of marriage to raising her children. In 1966, Ruth returned to teaching at East Buchanan schools and, in 1978, completed her BA in education, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Upper Iowa College in Fayette. She retired from teaching in 1991.

Ruth had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and attended Troy Mills Methodist Church, Keine Congregational Church, and Silver Creek Methodist Church. She was a pianist and Sunday School teacher. Ruth also joined Leon in speaking at Lay-Witness meetings around the state.

Ruth loved music and taught piano lessons for many years. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, and published a collection of her memories and writings in Memoirs of a Country Girl. Although Ruth was articulate with words, Alzheimer’s robbed her of her ability to communicate. Despite that blow, she remained loving and cheerful.

Ruth will always be remembered as a woman of faith who was deeply devoted to her family, warm and hospitable, a country girl at heart, and a woman generous with her talents and time.

Ruth is survived by her children: David (Dawn) Bovenmyer of Ames, Steve (Julie) Bovenmyer of Ames, Dean Bovenmyer of Masonville and Carol (Eric) Gilson of Boone; son-in-law: Chris Biang of Madison, Wis.; 17 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; three brothers: Lloyd (Lee) Stimson of Strongsville, Ohio,

Harry (Kim) Stimson of Independence and Andy (Jan) Stimson of Waukegan, Ill. and many nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Bovenmyer; daughter, Virginia Biang; parents, Roy and Hazel Stimson; sister, Dorothy Sherman; and great-grandson, Maxwell Bovenmyer.