Ruth Ochsner

Ruth Eloise Stout Ochsner, 97, of Grant, passed away November 4, 2023, at Ogallala.

Ruth was born on July 4, 1926, on a farmstead south of Aurora, Nebraska, to Homer and Gertrude (Thornton) Stout. The family moved to rural Perkins County, Nebraska, in 1926 when Ruth was less than a year old. Ruth attended rural grade school in Perkins County and graduated from Perkins County High School in 1942 at age 16. She earned her Normal Teacher's Training certificate and taught rural school in Perkins County for two years. She worked for the Rural Electric Association in Grant as a bookkeeper for four years. She was married to Robert Elmer Ochsner on March 30, 1947, at the Grant Methodist Church. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage until Robert passed in 2008. She was confirmed in the Grant Methodist Church in 1938 and was a member for 85 years. She served as church organist for 50 years. She was a member of the United Methodist Woman's Fellowship and a member of the ABC Home Extension Club of Grant.

Ruth served on the Perkins County High School board for one year. She worked in the Farm Bureau Insurance office in Grant for five years. She was employed by the Ogallala Medical Clinic in insurance for ten years.

Ruth was a dedicated Christian, farm wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved playing the piano and organ and singing in the church choir and various community choirs. She and Bob loved to go dancing. She, her daughter, Janie, and granddaughter, Analisa, enjoyed playing piano trios together. She enjoyed cooking, reading, sewing, needlework, and doing jigsaw and word puzzles.

During summer evenings, she could be found playing baseball or football with her young family. She made cinnamon rolls nearly every Saturday and a pie for each Sunday dinner. She enjoyed walking and following school sports and, every Saturday afternoon, was loyal to the Husker football team on the radio. She was known for her quiet, patient, friendly, and loving manner. She had reached the age of 97 years.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob, son Terry Ochsner, and brothers Lyndle Stout, Homer "Russell" Stout, Donald Stout, and Bill Stout, sisters Margaret Daiss, Doris Frerichs, Dorothy "Jean" Gloy, Barbara "Bobby" McLean, and brother-in-law, Jack McLean

Ruth is survived by daughter-in-law Teresa (Terry) Ochsner of Vancouver, WA, son Randy (Cheryl) Ochsner of Hastings, NE, daughter Janie (Clifford) Colglazier of Grant, NE, son Rick (Jackie) Ochsner of Grant NE, and son Rob Ochsner of rural Ogallala, NE; sisters, Betty Miller of Evansville, IN; Beth Witt of Eugene, OR; Ruth's 12 grandchildren are Jennifer Ochsner, Adam Ochsner, Andrew Ochsner, Calvin Ochsner, Shawn Maleskar, Codie Maleskar, Ebony MacDonald, Douglas Colglazier, Timothy Colglazier, Analisa Colglazier, Micheal Ochsner, and Athena Messinger. There are 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to the Grant Fire Department in Ruth's memory. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com where the services will be streamed live.

A celebration of life service will be on November 11, 2023, at 1:30 pm at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Grant with Denise Johnson officiating. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery, Grant, Nebraska.

Visitation will be on Friday, from 4 pm until 6 pm, at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge of arrangements.