Obit: Houts, Ruth (1938 - 2013)

Contact: Audrey Roedl
Email: audrey@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Houts, Ritchie, Molter’ Drew, Markee

----Source: The Loyal TRG (Loyal, Clark County, WI) 05 June 2013

Houts, Ruth (19 Aug 1938-27 May 2013)

Ruth M. Houts, 74, Fairchild, passed away peacefully at her residence on Monday, May 27, 2013, with her loving family at her bedside. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, June 1, ay Trinity Lutheran Church, Unity. Rev. Larry Sturgis officiated. A second funeral service was held at 1:30 p.m., On Saturday, June 2, at South Beef River Lutheran Church, rural Osseo. Rev. Linda Marlett officiated. She will be laid to reat in Cleveland Township Cemetery privately at a later date. Pallbearers were Laura Evan and Aaron Drew, Taylor, Hayden, Aubrey and Ashley Houts and Savannah and Madison Markee.

Ruth Molter was born on Aug. 19, 1938, in Lima, Ohio, the daughter of Rev. Carl and Naomi (nee Ritchie) Molter. She graduated from Cleveland High School In Cleveland, Ohio, and attended two years at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. On August 24, 1958, Ruth married Rev. Albert “Al” Houts in Beaver Falls, Pa. Her employment included work with Catholic Charities, and data entry work at Krause Publishing in Iola. Her most memorable employment was working directly with and for former Wisconsin Republican Congressman Steve Gunderson. Her hobbies included knitting, reading, watching “Jeopardy” on TV and watching all the beautiful wildlife around her home. She liked watching Minnesota Twins baseball and Viking football games. For those who knew her, Ruth possessed great faith and supported the churches and their members that she and her husband Rev. “Al” were associated with. Ruth was instrumental in starting the Prayer Shawl Ministry at both Trinity Lutheran in Unity and South Beef River in Osseo, attended Bible studies at both churches, helped out with Sunday school teaching and became a mentor for confirmands. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Unity, South Beef River Lutheran Church in Osseo, and various women’s church groups and social groups.

Survivors include her husband, Rev. Albert “Al” Houts, Fairchild; four children, Rachael (David) Drew, Birchwood, Minn.; Robert (Jacalyn) Houts, Owen, Scott (Debra) Houts, Omro, and Becky (Steve) Markee, Black River Falls; nine grandchildren, Laura, Evan and Aaron Drew, Taylor, Hayden, Aubrey and Ashley Houts and Savannah and Madison Markee; a sister-in-law, Barbara Stern, Rock Falls, Ill.; two nephews, James Kowalka, New York, and Leslie Stern, Chicago; along with many other relatives and many friends.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Marilyn Kowalka; and one brother, Johnny Malter.

Memorials in Ruth;s name are being accepted to South Beef River Lutheran Church Prayer Shawl Ministry, the Trinity Lutheral Church Food Pantry in Unity, or the Hospice Program for Black River Falls Memorial Hospital.

Visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com  to share condolences with the family.

Life Tributes Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Spencer assisted the family with arrangements.