Ruth Esther Rathjen

Ruth Esther Rathjen, 101, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Saturday, June 15, 2013. Funeral Services will be held at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 10:30 A.M. Friday, June 21, 2013. Friends may pay their respects to Mrs. Rathjen at Dengel & Son Mortuary after 1:00 P.M. Thursday, to the service hour where the family will meet with friends from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. Friday. Interment Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, Kansas Ruth was born on Saturday, May 11, 1912 in Princeton. She was the daughter of David Leander and Ada Mary (Kennedy) Mathias. Ruth was a lifelong resident of Franklin County living in Princeton and Ottawa. She graduated 8th grade at Mt. Hope Rural School. On July 21, 1930 Ruth was united in marriage to Thomas H. Rathjen in Ottawa, Kansas. He preceded her in death on March 12, 1994. They shared sixty-two years of marriage. Survivors include their only daughter, Marynell New and husband Wayne; three grandchildren, Cheryl A. Floyd and husband Lonnie, Steven W. New and wife Penny, and James L. New; five great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and sister, Nellie M. Carey. She was also preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Edith M. Deaton and Mildred A. Brown; and two brothers, John and Alfred Mathias. Ruth was a devoted lifelong homemaker who loved and enjoyed her family. Her hobbies were jig-saw puzzles, playing cards and word search puzzles. She loved working in the garden and with her flowers. She was a long time member of the Princeton Christian Church, accepting Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior; she was baptized eighty-five years ago on October 16, 1927. The family suggests memorial contributions to Princeton Christian Church or Christian Care Cottage c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. An online Guest Book is available at www.dengelmortuary.com.