Mary Ruth Kleinsasser

Mary Ruth (Gross) Kleinsasser was born on June 23, 1916 on a farm near Carpenter, SD to Andrew A. Gross and Rebecca (Glanzer) Gross. She had two older brothers, David Andrew and Peter Simon. The family bought a farm near Fort McCloud, Alberta, Canada and moved there when Mary Ruth was almost 2 years old. Six weeks later a baby sister was born, Rebecca Ann. At the age of 24 months, during the 1918 flu epidemic, she was preceded in death by her mother, age 34, her father, age 36, her oldest brother, age 8, and her baby sister, age 3 months. All four family members died within four months of each other leaving only Mary Ruth, age 2 and Peter Simon, age 6. The children's grandfather, Paul Glanzer, and great uncle, Rev. David Wipf, traveled to Alberta, Canada to bring them back to Dolton, SD. Her time with her grandparents was only 8 months as the Lord had another home in mind for her. Her mother's sister, Elizabeth Glanzer and her husband Peter S. Hofer of Hitchcock, SD, took her in, as their very own. The newlywed couple of only 6 months opened not only their home to her, but their hearts as well. She came to live with them 4 days before her third birthday. Later she was blessed with a little brother, Waldo Hofer. She was always grateful for the Christian home she was raised in. In September of 1929, she accepted Jesus Christ as her own personal savior, was baptized by Rev. J.P. Glanzer, and accepted as a member of Ebenezer Church near Doland, SD. Mary Ruth was united in Holy Matrimony to Jacob W. Kleinsasser, Jr. on October 4, 1940 at the Emmanuel Church near Doland, SD by Rev. David J. Mendel. The couple lived on a farm south of Doland for a year and then bought a farm near Frankfort, SD. Four children were born to this union. However, their second daughter Velma Lynn was taken home to be with Jesus at the age of 5 months. After their farming years, they enjoyed traveling together to many places on extended trips. In 1969, they moved to Omaha, NE to be near their married children. In Omaha, Mary Ruth very much enjoyed her grandchildren as well as working outside the home. She spent 6 years working in food service at Boys Town. After the death of her husband, she spent her remaining 22 years keeping active and busy. She loved collecting and recording and always kept a diary. She loved reading and writing poetry and also loved greeting cards. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were always remembered with a card on birthdays and anniversaries. She also loved handwork, crafts and quilting. Each family member was also remembered with a quilt that was lovingly stitched. Throughout her life, church and family were always the most precious to Mary. Her love for music was one way she enjoyed being involved in church. She was church pianist, played guitar and accordion and sang in choir and small groups. She also taught Sunday school classes, served as chairman and also treasurer of the Women's Missionary Society, as Christian Witness Correspondent, etc. In the community, she was active in the Farmer's Union as youth leader, county secretary, and state youth counselor. Mary Ruth loved life and always saw opportunities to learn or be involved. She was engaged and active until the last two weeks of her life. She was preceded in death by her birth parents, the parents that raised her, 3 brothers, 2 sisters, her loving husband of 45 years, a daughter - Velma Lynn, a granddaughter - Sarah Jo Kleinsasser, a great-granddaughter - Autumn Faye Tschetter, and a son-in-law - Virgil Winter. Left at her passing are: daughter Cynthia Winter of Omaha, NE - son Wilmer and Elaine Kleinsasser of Huron, SD - daughter Ardella and John Janzen of Omaha, NE - 9 grandchildren - 21 great grandchildren - brother Waldo Hofer of Hitchcock, SD - sister-in-law Doris Gross of Deadwood, SD - brother-in-law John and Gladys Kleinsasser of Hoffman, MN - sister-in-law Martha Kleinsasser of Mound, MN - sister-in-law Elizabeth Penley of Jackson MS - nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mary Ruth Kleinsasser

June 23, 1916 - November 29, 2007