Ruth R. Schumacher

The funeral service for Ruth R. Schumacher, 94, of Hosmer, SD is 10:30 AM Saturday, December 2, 2023, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Hosmer with Vicar Janet Sandmeier and Pastor Deb Grismer officiating the service.  Burial will follow at the Bethany Cemetery.   

Visitation is Friday, December 1, 2023, from 5 - 7:00 PM at Schriver Funeral Home, 720 N 6th Street, Ipswich, SD with a prayer service at 7:00. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Ruth Rosina Schumacher was born October 4,1929 to John and Rosina (Hieb) Neifer on the family farm 14 miles northeast of Hosmer in McPherson County.  She was baptized and later confirmed at the Hosmer Reformed Church.

Ruth attended country school in McPherson County for eight years before going to high school in Hosmer where she graduated in 1946. Ruth continued her education by attending the summer session at Northern State College and immediately started her long career in teaching at Sangamon Township School in the fall of 1946.

On September 4, 1949, Ruth was joined in marriage to Melvin Schumacher.  They made their home on Melvin’s family farm east of Hosmer.

Ruth would drive to Aberdeen every morning in the summer to attend classes at Northern State and would return to the farm by 1:00 pm every day to help Melvin and his father with farm work.  Occasionally, she would drive back to Aberdeen in the evening to take night classes and also took correspondence classes as well.  All of her dedication to be the best teacher she could be, led her to attaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Lower Education in 1964.  Her career spanned 15 years in country schools in Edmunds and McPherson Counties and 27 years in the Hosmer Public School System before retiring on May 18, 1991.  Her love of children and teaching didn’t stop after retirement.  She could be found substitute teaching and later sharing history of “the old days” with students as a special guest in surrounding schools.

In all those years of teaching she only missed one term in the classroom when her son, Dean, was born in December of 1950.

Ruth’s work didn’t end when school was dismissed.  She was a farmer’s daughter and a farmer’s wife. She would head home to the farm to work alongside Melvin and later with Dean and grandson Darren. Even after retirement she worked hard on the farm and could use every piece of equipment except a combine. Her energy was astounding in that she still always made time to care for family members, visit with friends and family and prepare delicious meals.

Melvin died in 1999.  Ruth continued to live on the farm until moving to Hosmer in the fall of 2011.  She moved to assisted living in Eureka just two months ago.

She was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and served on the education board, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  She was also active in WELCA where she served two terms as President and Vice President as well as serving on other committees.

Ruth loved music, especially country music, dancing, gardening, cooking and baking.  She was always available to help her grandchildren whether it was advice on a recipe or to watch great-grandchildren.  She loved to attend their events and activities.

The love that Ruth shared went beyond her immediate family.  Her smile was always a welcome sight at extended family and friend’s life events.  She was so much more than a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.  She was the one that could be counted on in times of sadness and times of joy.  She was an ageless soul with abounding energy that shared so much more than she ever expected in return.  And all of the angels smiled…

Ruth passed away on Friday, November 24, 2023, at the Eureka Assisted Living Center in Eureka, SD.

She is survived by her two grandchildren, Darren (Amy) Schumacher and Dawn (Brian) Malsam; daughter-in-law, Bonnie Schumacher, six great-grandchildren, Declan, Liam, and Cormac Schumacher and Sydnee, Paxton and Rory Malsam and many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Preceding Ruth in death were her parents John and Rosina; husband, Melvin; son, Dean; and siblings, Jacob Neifer, Tillman Neifer, Ruben Neifer, Lenhart Neifer, Wanitha Jung, Calvin Neifer, Ella Gramm and Leo Neifer, nephew, Allan Jung, Sr. and her brothers and sisters in-law.

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