Ruth Elma (Ihrig) Foreman

Ruth Elma (Ihrig) Foreman, age 94, of Withers Mill, MO passed away on August 16, 2023 at 7:49 p.m. en route to Hannibal Regional Hospital.

Funeral services for Ruth will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 21, 2023 at Big Creek Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Rensselaer, MO. Burial and committal prayers will follow at Big Creek Cemetery. 

Visitation celebrating Ruth's life will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at Smith Funeral Home & Chapel.

A second visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the beginning of the funeral service on Monday at the church.

Known as "Ruthie" to her friends and family, and "R.E." to "Willie", her husband of seventy years, Ruth Foreman was a much beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  With her melodic soprano voice, Ruth graced Big Creek Presbyterian Church's choir and the Mark Twain Chorale for many years.  She and Willie sang duets for events throughout their married life.  An accomplished artist, her love of beauty was evident from the decorations she chose for gatherings, to cherished watercolors she painted on the farm. She considered everyone family or extended family and all were welcomed in her home.

Ruth was born on January 18, 1929, the youngest daughter of Elmer and Alice (Kern) Ihrig.  Both her parents and her older twin sisters, Mary and Margaret, preceded her in death.  Ruth grew up in Withers Mill, lived her adult life on the Withers Mill farm, and in 2000, returned to her childhood home, where she remained until the time of her death.  She utilized her knowledge of the area's history and her artistic expertise to illustrate a written history of Withers Mill, written in 1989 by J. and Roberta Hagood.

On August 28, 1949, Ruth married George Wilfred "Willie" Foreman.  After joint teaching with Willie for two years at the Cantril, Iowa Public School, they returned to Withers Mill, where they farmed until retirement.  Willie preceded Ruth in death on September 17, 2019.

Ruth is survived by six children: Gary (Ann) of Palmyra, MO, Sarah Chisamore (Jim) of Rochelle, IL, Bruce (Beth) of Holland, MI, Joe (Marcia) of Troy, MO, Jesse (Amy) of Concho, AZ and Jay (DeeDee) of Collinsville, OK.  She was preceded in death by an infant son, Bradley.  In addition, Ruth is survived by twenty-three grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren.  She will be remembered by them all for her willingness to drop other tasks in order to spend quality time with them, baking cookies, playing games or reading books.  Those whose lives she touched will greatly miss her.

Memorial contributions may be made to Big Creek Evangelical Presbyterian Church, in care of Smith Funeral Home & Chapel

Online condolences may be made to the family and video tribute viewed on Ruth's memorial page at www.smithfuneralhomeandchapel.com  
 

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