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Ruth Bienhoff, Age 87

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Ruth (Kuhlmann) Bienhoff, 87, of Kensington, passed away January 15, 2017 at Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center, KS. Ruth was born March 30, 1929 on the family farm south of Athol, the daughter of William H. and Dora (Hupe) Kuhlmann. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church, Athol, KS. She attended Sunny Side Rural and Athol Grade School and graduated from Athol Rural High School in 1946. She attended Joplin Jr. College, Joplin, MO and Ft. Hays State College and taught at Pleasant Ridge Rural School and the lower grades at Athol Grade School. Ruth married Gerald Bienhoff on September 25, 1949, at St. John Lutheran Church, Kensington and they established their home on a farm southwest of Kensington. Together they worked raising livestock and crops. Four sons, Paul, Mark, John, and Joel, and twin daughters, Mary and Sara were born to this union. They were devastated at the death of their daughters, Mary Jane at the age of 11 months and Sara Elaine at the age of 39 years. She enjoyed music and used her talents in the school, community, and church. She was an organist in her church for almost 50 years where she also was an involved member in teaching Sunday School and Bible studies and represented her church and the women of the church at local, synod and national levels. As a child she began writing letters especially to servicemen in WWII and this hobby corresponding with many relatives and friends continued throughout her life. She wrote the Kensington news column for the Smith County Pioneer and Phillips County Review for over 35 years and later also wrote for the Advocate of Phillips County. After she and Gerald moved into Kensington in 1992 they enjoyed tours in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In 2000, they spent three weeks in Germany visiting Ruth's cousins, and she was overwhelmed to attend a wedding in the church where her mother was baptized as an infant. In July 2015 due to declining health and eyesight, Ruth entered Kensington Health and Rehab. After closure of the facility, in October 2016 she entered Smith Center Health and Rehab. Ruth deeply appreciated her family and enjoyed seeing her six granddaughters grow up, get an education and the oldest five establish homes of their own. Her youngest granddaughter Leah kept her "young at heart." Her great grandchildren gave her much joy.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gerald in 2002, her twin daughters Mary in 1961 and Sara in 1999, her parents, a still-born sister, and two brothers and spouses Arnold and Donna Kuhlmann and Louis D. and Dorene Kuhlmann.

She leaves to mourn her passing: four sons, Paul (Debra) Bienhoff of Kensington, Mark (Troy) Bienhoff of Des Moines, IA, John (Tonya) Bienhoff of Fayetteville, AR, and Joel (Connie) Bienhoff of Kensington; six granddaughters, Laura Bienhoff of Houston, TX, Emily (Nick) Levin of Hutchinson, Jessica (Brandon) Schreck of Canute, OK, Jennifer (Ryan) Bruns of Fort Dodge, IA, Megan (Chris) Broeckelman of Natoma, and Leah Bienhoff of Kensington; three great granddaughters, Lyla Levin, Claire Broeckelman, and Baby girl Broeckelman next month; eight great grandsons, Bennett Tiner, Kayden Hudson, Gabriel Broeckelman, Eli Broeckelman, Jack Levin, Max Levin, Jace Bruns, and West Bruns; one brother-in-law and spouse, Edgar and Norma Bienhoff of Salina, KS.

A celebration of Ruth's life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, January 21, 2017 at St. John Lutheran Church, Kensington, KS, with Pastors Lorna Paulus and Lee Bennight officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, January 20, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 6-8 p.m. at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, Smith Center, KS and 8:30 a.m., Saturday, January 21, 2017 at the church. Burial will be in the St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery, Kensington. Memorials may be given to the church or donor's choice in care of the funeral chapel.

 

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