Courtesy notice for the Whitten family and All Faiths Funeral Chapel of Smith Center, Kansas

Ruth Grace (Wehrly) Whitten, 87, daughter of Charles and Mable (Ryker) Wehrly, was born January 23, 1927 north of Guide Rock in Webster County, NE. She departed this life Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Brodstone Memorial Hospital, Superior, NE.

As a young girl, Ruth lived with her parents on a farmstead north of Guide Rock, NE. She graduated from Eckley High School near Guide Rock, NE in 1945. She attended Kearney State College and was a teacher at a country school north of Guide Rock. On June 27, 1947 she was united in marriage to Leonard Whitten at Belleville, KS. This union was blessed with the birth of four children, two sons and two daughters. After their marriage Leonard and Ruth farmed the farmstead that Ruth grew up on north of Guide Rock until 1973 when they moved to Lexington, NE. At Lexington, Ruth was employed at the Motel Royal and did child daycare from her home. In 1989 the couple had a home near Johnson Lake near Elwood, NE. Leonard and Ruth bought a home in Superior, NE in 1999 to be nearer to their children.


Ruth enjoyed bowling, dancing, crocheting, quilting, garage sales, and traveling. She loved making quilts and afghans for her grandchildren who she loved dearly. She always remembered birthdays with a card sent in the mail.


She was preceded in death by an infant sister, parents, son Dennis on December 18, 1996 and husband Leonard on September 26, 2000.


Ruth is survived by her two daughters, Darlene Hays and husband Sam, Linda Thagard all of Superior, NE; a daughter-in-law, Patty Whitten of Blue Hill, NE; a son, Lonnie Whitten and wife Debra of Smith Center, KS; 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.



Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 4, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church, Guide Rock, NE, with Dr. Jeff Collins of the Superior Church of Christ officiating.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. until service time at the church.

Burial will be in the Guide Rock Cemetery, Guide Rock, NE.

Memorials may be given to the Ruth G. Whitten Memorial fund in care of All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS 66967.

For on-line condolences please visit www.allfaithsfuneralchapel.com