E. Ruth Fricke, the eldest child of the three children born to Christian Kruse Jr. and Lena (Menger) Kruse, was born December 10, 1924 in rural Winnetoon. She grew up on the family farm and attended country school, Winnetoon High School, and graduated from Creighton High School in 1942 where she completed the Normal Training courses required to teach. She taught in country schools for three years.
On March 11, 1945 she was united in Marriage to Donald J. Fricke. They lived in California until Don was honorably discharged from the United states Navy in November, 1945.
They moved to Lincoln, NE for two years where Don attended UNL, and in 1947, they moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where Don attended the Southern College of Optometry. Ruth always worked during her husband’s schooling, including three years at Sears in downtown Memphis.
They moved back to Knox county after Don’s graduation and settled in Bloomfield where they raised their two children David and Krista. In addition to her duties as mother and housewife, Ruth served as her husband’s office manager for 27 years. They retired on January 1, 1989. Ruth continued to live in Bloomfield until her husband’s death on February 13, 2007. She then moved to Lincoln to be closer to her family.
She passed away June 21, 2019, at the age of 94 years 6 months and 11 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Don, brother Adolph Kruse, and sister Helen Elwood. She is survived by her son David (Lisa) Fricke of Omaha, and daughter Krista (Chuck) Kohles of Davey; grandchildren Jason Fricke of Omaha, Ryan Fricke of Lincoln, Erica (Stephen) Velasquez of Cave Springs, Arkansas, Cameron Kohles (Maggie) of Omaha, Bret (Alisha) of Gretna, Josh (Cody) Kohles of Waverly, 10 Great Grandchildren, and a number of nephews and nieces.
Ruth’s steadfast Christian faith guided her life: She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Christ Lutheran Church in Bazile Mills. Ruth was a fifty-seven-year member of First Trinity Lutheran Church in Bloomfield, and a twelve year member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln.
She was extremely proud of her family, their activities, and accomplishments. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
A memorial service will be Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at First Trinity Lutheran Church in Bloomfield, NE.
Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren: Jason Fricke, Cameron Kohles, Erica (Fricke) Velasquez, Joshua Kohles, Bret Kohles and Ryan Fricke.