Ruth Leona Sharp

Friday, October 14, 2016

Ruth Leona Sharp

March 29, 1921 - Oct. 13, 2016

BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Ruth Leona Sharp was born to Orin C. and Opal P. (Adkinson) Wilson on March 29, 1921, on their farm 18 miles north of Laird, Colo., near the community of Alvin. Ruth was the second oldest of six children.

As a young girl, Ruth attended country school, District 22, and went on to graduate from Wray High School in Wray, Colo., in 1938. After completing her high school education, Ruth met and fell in love with a young man who would ride his horse carrying his fiddle to play at country dances.

On April Fool's day of 1939, Ruth married this young rancher, Thomas Eugene Sharp, and to this union two children were born, Irene and Tom. The coupled then settled on a ranch, homesteaded by his father in 1904, 13 miles north of Laird, Colo., in Dundy County, Neb. Ruth and Tom lived there until the fall of 1968, when they purchased a ranch near Merriman, Neb.

In 1976, the couple made Benkelman, Neb., their home, where Ruth was active in the United Methodist Church of Benkelman, a member of Eastern Star and the Bloodmobile.

Ruth passed away Thursday morning, Oct. 13, 2016, at the Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. She was 95 years of age.

Survivors include her daughter, Irene Allison of Sacramento, Calif., son, Tom Sharp and wife, Lois, of St. Francis, Kan.; sister, Elaine Crider of Wray, Colo.; four grandchildren, Terri (Roger) Orth, Robert (Jeane) Sharp, Seianna Crista, and Wendy (Robert) Mitchell; and seven great-grandchildren.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Tom; sisters, Faye Haglund and Fern McGranahan; brothers, Cliff Wilson, Earl Wilson, and Lee Wilson; and grandson, Max Allison Jr.

Funeral services will be Tuesday morning, Oct. 18, 2016, 10:30 a.m. (MT) at the United Methodist Church of Benkelman, with Pastor Richard Savage officiating. Interment will follow at the Benkelman Cemetery in Benkelman.

Visitation will be Tuesday morning, Oct. 18, 2016, starting at 8:30 a.m. (MT) before services at the United Methodist Church of Benkelman.

Online condolences maybe left at liewerfuneralhome.com

Benkelman Memorial Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.