Ruth E. (Zastrow) Buelke

Ruth E Buelke

Ruth Buelke went to her heavenly home on ­­­­­­­October 15, 2016. She was the last survivor of 10 children, born November 9, 1916, to Robert and Lydia Zastrow of Juneau. In 1936 she married Lester Buelke and they farmed near Juneau for the next half a century. Ruth was a hard worker, with a “do-what-you-gotta-do” attitude, being a mother and housewife and farmwife, and later worked at various jobs to help support their three children through higher education and eventually their own retirement.

Ruth and Lester enjoyed traveling, especially to visit their children who scattered around the country, to visit friends, and to just enjoy the scenery of our great land. They ventured overseas several times to Europe, Israel, and Thailand and made friends there with whom they still kept in contact.

She was “the glue that held the family together,” helping to care for her mother and sisters in their declining years, nurturing and guiding her children, and nursing Lester as his health failed prior to his passing in 1999. Her son-in-law, Dean Phay, also preceded her in death in 1996. She is survived by all three of her children; Robert of Juneau, Donald (Teckla) of Victor, MT, and Rhoda Phay of Steilacoom, WA, by 7 grandchildren, and by 11 great-grandchildren. With age and health issues developing, she decided to leave her home of 74 years in 2000 and move to an assisted living facility in Horicon. In 2001 she chose to move West, to be closer to Donald and Rhoda who alternately kept her in their homes until 2012. At that point she moved into the Remington Assisted Living Center in Hamilton, MT near Don.

Mom was a blessing to all those around her, and especially to her children in teaching them the way to salvation on her lap and at her feet.

Funeral services will be Thursday October 20, 2016 at 11AM at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Juneau. Rev. Paul Schupmann will officiate.  Visitation is Thursday from 10AM until time of service at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church.  Interment Juneau city Cemetery. The Berndt-Ledesma Funeral Home-Juneau is serving the family.                                                  

www.berndt-ledesma.com

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