After a brief illness, Ruth Margaret Smith passed away in the early hours of Good Friday, April 10, 2020. A silent soldier for her Savior, it seems appropriate Ruth earned her Heavenly reward on a day we commemorate the Passion and death of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Ruth’s time on Earth was good and wholesome. It included the highlight of raising three adoring children to be strong and independent. She herself was the youngest of four children born to John and Sophie Goranson in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Ruth was a committed member of the Lutheran community. She sang in church choirs, and it was in that music that she met her husband, Jim. Now, when the darkness fell on her final days, the Lord lovingly took her very breath that sang His praise.
Ruth leaves behind son, Brian Smith (Kim, and daughters, Heather Walton (Scott) and Brenda Webb (Bob, along with five grandchildren; Ian Smith, Kylyn Stark, Maci Walton, Tawne Walton and Abbie Walton and three great-grandchildren; Boston Smith, Jagger Smith and Jemma Stark. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Elizabeth Decker, Ann Armstrong, Art Goranson & Helen Martin.
Ruth lived most of her adult life in Topeka, Kansas working as an office clerk for the USDA-Risk Management. The last two years she resided in Moundridge, Kansas within the Pine Village Retirement Community.
She will be interred aside the Immanuel Lutheran Church (Canton, Ks). There will be a small private funeral service at this time as dictated by the current COVID-19 restrictions, but a ceremony to celebrate Ruth’s life will be scheduled at a date to be determined. Donations in Ruth’s name may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church (Canton, Ks) or to Calvary Lutheran Church (Topeka, Ks) in care of Moundridge Funeral Home, PO Box 410, Moundridge, Kansas 67107.
A favorite scripture of Ruth was John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”