Ruth Gortmaker

Ruth Gortmaker, 95 of Parker died Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home in Viborg.  Funeral services will be at 1:00pm Monday, September 25, 2023 at the First English Lutheran Church in Parker with burial at Rosehill Cemetery, Parker.  Visitation will be from 2-4pm Sunday afternoon at Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home, Parker.  The service will be broadcast at https://www.facebook.com/HofmeisterJonesFuneralHome

Ruth Esther Jones was born on September 19, 1928 on a farm near Parker to Arthur and Leona (Smith) Jones.  She attended country schools and graduated from Parker High School in 1946. After high school she was employed at the Rainbow Cafe, Parker Bakery, and at the Turner County Courthouse.  On January 25, 1951 she was united in marriage to Peter Gortmaker at Parker, SD. They farmed north of Parker and in 1961 they moved into Parker where they lived in the same home until recently becoming residents at Dow Rummel. The last few months she spent at the Pioneer Memorial in Viborg, finding comfort being with her sister Bettie.

Ruth was a lifelong member of the First English Lutheran Church and with her husband attended meetings of the Turner County Rural Mail Carriers Association and the National Rural Mail Carriers Association. She enjoyed her coffee groups, music and playing the organ and piano, cooking and baking, gardening, and was a member of the 28er’s club.

Grateful for having shared her life are 3 children, Gwen Highfill, Richmond, TX, Teri (Peter Nied) LaVelle, Stuart, Florida, and Karen (Marwin) Hofer, Sioux Falls, SD; 5 grandchildren, Sarah, Ciara, Amanda, Brooklyn and Mitchell; 5 great grandchildren, Finley, Caidan, Eden, L J, and Vance; and a sister Bettie (Gene) Larsen, Viborg.    She was preceded in death by her husband Peter, a son Donald, a son in law, Ed Highfill,  a brother Dale “Doc” (Eloise) Jones, and sisters, Ellen (Arthur) Berg, Arlene Gates, and Marilyn (Jerry) Davis.