A public graveside service for Ruth will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Elmwood on Saturday May 7, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Elmwood Community Centre from 2 – 4 p.m.
“Though a good deal is too strange to be believed,
nothing is too strange to have happened.”
Thomas Hardy, The Personal Notebooks of Thomas Hardy
Perhaps this quotation is what first prompted Ruth Marie Beckenhauer to travel the world. If so, trusting her favourite author Ruth would have ventured off, backpacking and hosteling through Europe, enjoying both the sights and sounds, history, hearsay and histrionics of the British Isles. Ruth loved classical literature and classical art and so to fall in love with two of the Classical Antiquity countries, Egypt and Jordan, just made sense.
Even though Ruth often talked of how our old buildings here in Canada are young compared to elsewhere, the Beckenhauer family has quite a history in this area. Ruth’s father, Henry Beckenhauer (born 4 December 1905 in Bentinck, Grey County) was the youngest child born to John and Ida Beckenhauer. He was only 15 months old when his father died of pneumonia (after he broke his ribs and punctured his lung in a sleigh accident). As a young man, Henry worked for Gordon Schilling as a mechanic. He later married Gordon’s sister, Laurine. Henry was a very good mechanic–the best one around. When Gordon died and Henry worked at another garage, the owner of that garage decided to sell. The new prospective buyer told the seller that he would only buy the garage on one condition, that Henry Beckenhauer continue working there after he bought it!
Ruth’s maternal grandfather, August Schilling was a barn framer by profession. He was also an excellent farmer. He could grow more on 50 acres than others could grow on 100 acres! He was a hard worker and everything had to be just so! He was very particular that way, but he wasn’t hard to work for. As a child, Laurine learned to plow and harrow! All the Schilling children were good students at school. (Information published by Wendy Sorensen.)
Ruth was born in Hanover on November 12, 1939. Her brother Gordon was born in 1935, Harry in 1936, and then brother Don in 1941. Ruth resided with her family in Elmwood and went to public school in Elmwood and high school in Hanover. Right after graduating, Ruth left for Waterloo. Ruth graduated from teachers college and taught elementary school at Harold Wagner School, Waterloo, from 1961 to 1963. In one story, it was reported that Ruth was so young looking and tiny that the principal of the school yelled at her on the playground thinking she was a student instead of a teacher! Loving history, Ruth also enrolled at Wilfred Laurier University (then known as Waterloo Lutheran University) intent on obtaining a degree.
That year her desire to travel soon took over and she spent a year backpacking through Europe, likely sailing to get there! Ruth returned to Waterloo for another year of teaching (1964-1965) at Lincoln Heights, before heading off again to travel the world, this time with her best friend Suzanne Henderson. Suzanne soon came home and Ruth continued on to the Mediterranean, the Soviet Union, Asia and Australia. If you want to hear a comical story, ask Ruth’s family about all the washroom photos in Russia.
It was during this particular adventure she found Bondi Beach, Australia, which she loved, and her new home was found. Ruth moved to the Sydney area and settled in. Following that, Ruth worked as quality control manager for the international model, designer and manufacturer of swim wear, Robyn Garland. It was in Sydney that Robyn made a splash as the designer of ‘minimal’ swim wear – and that’s saying something when you think of the generally scanty Bondi beach outfits of the 1970’s. With this job, Ruth was able to continue travelling the world.
Ruth resided in different parts of Australia (including Tasmania after her retirement in the early 2000’s) for the next 45+ years and only returned home in 2012 to be closer to her family in Elmwood. Ruth did come home for the death of her father, mother and visit family on a few occasions. Following the death of her partner George Kelly (May 27, 2008) whom she met in Australia in 1968, Ruth became involved with a hiking group and wine tour groups. She loved spending time with her beloved dog, Chinook.
Ruth had many more passions than those already mentioned. She participated in book clubs, gardened, and fished. She loved her 1962 Volvo and jazz music, especially Ella Fitzgerald and Cab Calloway.
A good book on your shelf is a friend
that turns its back on you and remains a friend.
Author unknown
There is no doubt that Ruth was a lifelong learner. She definitely was courageous, having even run with the bulls in Spain. Ruth has also been described as determined (if she wanted to do it, she did it), private, daring (of course), independent and loyal. All of these traits were so admirable.
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends;
they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors,
and the most patient of teachers.
Charles W. Eliot
Ruth passed away peacefully with her family by her side at South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Walkerton on Friday, March 18, 2016 in her 77th year.
Ruth will live on in the hearts and minds of her brothers Gordon (Doreen – predeceased) of Waterloo, Harry (Lorraine) of Kelowna, B.C., and Donald (Verna) of Elmwood. She will be dearly missed by her eleven nieces/nephews and their families as well as her life-long friend Suzanne (Fernand) Ellyin of Victoria, B.C. Ruth was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend George Kelly, great-niece Lisa Marie Beckenhauer, nephew Michael Beckenhauer and her parents, Henry and Laurine Beckenhauer.
Cremation has taken place and a public graveside service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Elmwood at a later date.
Memorial donations to St. John’s Lutheran Church – Building Fund (Elmwood) or Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
