Ruth Marie Borchardt

Borchardt, Ruth age 74 of Valley, Nebraska Survived by husband of 56 years, Frank; children Carrie Borchardt and George Realmuto of Apple Valley, MN, Kim and Bob Becker of Omaha, Sheri and Donovan Dahl of Tucson, AZ, John and Barb Borchardt of Blair and Jim Borchardt and Patty Fisher of Bronson, IA; 19 Grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; sister Joanne Clark of Georgetowne, DE, Sharon Ekstrand of Crozet, VA and Rita Dinger of Lincoln, NE Visitation Monday 4 to 7 PM at St. John’s Catholic Church in Valley, with a Rosary at 7 PM. Funeral Mass Tuesday 10:30 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church. Interment Prospect Hill Cemetery. Memorials to Madonna School in Omaha, St. John’s Catholic Church or Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Foundation. Condolences to www.reichmuthfuneralhomes.com Reichmuth Funeral Home 21901 W. Maple Rd. 402-289-2222 Ruth Marie (Klein) Borchardt was born April 26, 1938 at Bismarck, ND to Lawrence A. and Anna (Michaels) Klein. She grew up and attended school in Center, ND, graduating from high school in 1955. Ruth was active in band, chorus, drama and basketball, but her first love(s) were her trumpet and basketball. She played in the all-state band and was a starter for three years on teams that made the state basketball tournament. After high school, Ruth attended the College of Saint Benedict for one year before getting married to Franklin A. Borchardt in September, 1956. To that marriage three daughters, Carrie, Kimalle and Sheri, and two sons, John and Jim, were born. Ruth and Frank initially lived in Dickenson, ND, where Ruth continued her education at Dickenson State Teacher’s College, and then Grand Forks, ND, where Frank finished his education at the University of North Dakota. They then moved to Omaha, NE and subsequently to Billings, MT, where Ruth continued her education and got her BS in elementary education with a special education endorsement from Eastern Montana College (now Montana State Billings). Ruth taught in Billings for one year before they moved to Des Moines, IA, then back to Omaha, NE and finally to Valley, NE where they lived until the present. Ruth taught school in Des Moines and Omaha and then in 1972 started the special education program in Valley. Ruth taught in Valley until 1987 when she was forced to retire because of failing health. Ruth is remembered for her love of children, teaching and friends. Her special times were when family or friends gathered or kids and grandkids visited. She always had gifts, sometimes strange gifts, for kids and grandkids. Frequently these came from garage sales which she enjoyed shopping. Ruth also enjoyed her trips to the casino. After Frank retired in 1995, Ruth and Frank spent several years traveling in their motor home and spent four winters in the RV at Las Vegas. The traveling ended when Ruth was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) in 2003. Ruth battled MDS until finally succumbing to the disease on September 21, 2012. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Ann Klein, and one brother, John. She is survived by her husband, Frank Borchardt, daughters Carrie of Apple Valley, MN; Kimalle (Becker) of Omaha, NE; Sheri (Dahl) of Tuscon, AZ; sons John of Blair, NE; and Jim of Bronson,IA; and sisters, Joanne Clark of Georgetowne, DE; Sharon Ekstrand of Crozet, VA; and Rita Dinger of Lincoln, NE; nineteen grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Ruth Marie Borchardt

April 26, 1938 - September 21, 2012