Ruth Marie Madden

Ruth Marie Madden, age 90, of Osawatomie, Kansas went peacefully to be with the Lord on May 25, 2019 at Rock Creek of Ottawa Care Facility. She was born Ruth Marie King on November 19, 1928 in Phillips County, Kansas. She was the daughter of Harvey Owen and Georgia (Simmonds) King. She grew up in Agra, Kansas during the dust bowl with her large family of nine siblings. She often said, “We worked hard but we were happy.” She attended Agra High School where she was the baton twirler for the Marching Band. She graduated in 1946 and shortly thereafter, she received her teaching certificate from Fort Hayes University. Her first teaching job was in a one room school in Phillips County, Kansas. She was united in marriage to Nelson Floyd Madden, the love of her life, on June 28, 1953 at Phillipsburg, Kansas and they were blessed with 58 precious years together. During their early years, they farmed in Coffey County while she also taught at Sunflower School. In 1956, they moved to Osawatomie and opened the Gamble’s Store. Their four children, Joyce, Randy, Rodney, and David all grew up in Osawatomie. In 1969, she received her Bachelor of Science from Pittsburg State University and began teaching the 5th grade at Osawatomie East Elementary School. Ruth continued teaching until her retirement in 1990. She loved to read her Bible, write letters, journal, and sing. She once performed as a trio with her two sisters, Anita and Phyllis. She loved shopping, eating out, and keeping a tidy home. She and Nelson spent many of their retirement years traveling to cattle sales and historical sites. She received the most pleasure from family gatherings and spending time with her grandchildren. A teacher at heart, she was the most gifted at teaching her own four children and grandchildren, leaving with them many life lessons, words of wisdom and precious memories. She was a member of the Rock Creek Church of Christ in Ottawa, where Nelson was ordained as an elder in 1968. She was instrumental in supporting him in his duties, and they made a great team. She loved to visit, write letters and encourage others while sharing her love of Jesus. She had a heart for those in need and many benefited from her kindness. Her crowning achievement in life was raising and teaching her family and loving others. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Georgia; her sisters, Mary Ellen King, Vera Kay King, and Anita Hooton; her brothers, Norval King, Martin King and Jack King; and her husband, Nelson. She is survived by her daughter Joyce (Dr. Edgar) Rosales of rural Rantoul; three sons, Randy (Terri) Madden of rural Rantoul, Rodney (Tanya) Madden of Osawatomie, and David (Leslie) Madden of Osawatomie; her sister Phyllis Colson of Salt Lake City, Utah; her brothers Gene (Barbara) King of California and Don (Michaelene) King of Paola; two sisters-in-law Kay King of Denver, CO and Ellen King of Westminster, CO; 13 grandchildren, Sonia (James) Jordon, Michael (Lauren) Rosales; Joshua (Steffany) Madden, Jesse (Shanna) Madden; Zachary (Alyssa) Madden, Lacey (Blake) Draper, Haley (Cody) Shaver, Darbey (Skyler) Beam; Delaney, Drake, Reed, Pierce, and Bretley Madden; 14 great-grandchildren Leo and George Jordan; Jayden and Sayge Madden, Jenna and Sadie Madden; Rhett and Boden Madden, Lily Jo and Barrett Draper, Tripp, Rheaden and Dawsyn Shaver, and Cooper Beam. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2019 at Rock Creek Church of Christ, Ottawa, KS. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 1, 2019 also at Rock Creek Church of Christ. Burial will be at the Osawatomie Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joshua Madden, Jesse Madden, Zachary Madden, Michael Rosales, Drake Madden, Reed Madden, Pierce Madden, James Jordan, Blake Draper, Cody Shaver and Skyler Beam. Memorial Contributions can be made to Nelson and Ruth Madden Scholarship Fund c/o Dengel and Son, 605 O’Neal Avenue, Osawatomie, KS 66064. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Ruth’s Tribute Wall.