Pastors Jerry Cassell and Kendal Hommes officiating; Honorary pallbearers: Aiden Pruitt, Andy Plucker, Ben Plucker, Brennan Plucker, Caleb Irwin, Carson Johnson, Corey Pruitt, Chris Stroppel, Hunter Hambly, Jace Jenkins, Jaxen Jenkins, Jerrin Thompson, Jonathan Findley, Josh Jenkins, Justin Thompson, Kevin Hillebrand, Michael Lindstaedt, Nathan Ruhter, Riley Artymonow, Shane Johnson, Taylor Johnson, Tyler Thompson, and Zach Artymonow.
Alfretta was born in Rosston, OK on April 18, 1932 to John (Jack) Lynn and Edna Lynn. She had two sisters – Floy and Myrna. The family moved from Oklahoma to Windsor, Colorado, They lived there for several years. It was while they were living in Windsor that Alfretta was baptized in the Windsor Lake to profess her love for and faith in Jesus. Her faith never waivered. Her family moved to Fort Collins where she graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1948. Alfretta married the love of her life, Kenneth Lee Ruhter, on June 11, 1950 in Fort Collins, Colorado. They were always a wonderful example of what God intended a Christian marriage to be. They loved to travel and were able to visit countries in Europe, Panama Canal, Hawaii, Alaska and so many more wonderful places. Kenny preceded her in death on June 29, 2015. They had four children: Lynda Lee, Kyle Lowell, Terri Dawn and Blaine Alan. Alfretta worked from home most of the time while her children were smaller. She worked part-time for Rexal Drug, the Aurora Schools, and she loved to do ironings for people who became life-long friends. She retired after many years from Rocky Mountain Farmers Union where she made even more lifelong friends.
Alfretta was faithful to attend church each week, taught Sunday School, and always welcomed anyone to their home for a “Grandma meal” of meat, potatoes, vegetables and dessert. She loved hosting affairs at her home. Most important to her was her family. She smiled with delight at the conversations with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren! Their daily lives, achievements and even heartaches were of utmost importance to her. She prayed for each of them by name every night. She was a member of the Assemblies of God, and loved to support her church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Mercy Ships. Alfretta was always encouraging others with her words, smiles, hugs, and prayers. She was a very understanding, non-judgmental, and forgiving person.
Although she had four children of her own, she readily and lovingly brought into her family her niece, Cindy, whose mom passed away when she was 8. She had multitudes of people that called her “Mom” and “Grandma” – because she felt like they were her own!
Alfretta is survived by her sisters, Floy Schwilling (KS) and Myrna Schwindt (CO), and her four children – Lynda Thompson, Kyle Ruhter (Jody), Terri Plucker (Dave) and Blaine Ruhter (Stori). She is also survived by and loved unconditionally by 19 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and 11 “grandchildren-in-love”.
Alfretta was preceded in death by her husband Kenny (2015), her parents – Jack Lynn (1961) and Edna Lynn (2014), her father and mother-in-law Paul Ruhter (1983) and Cecil Ruhter (1999), her niece Cindy Findley (2004), nephew Terry Findley (2023), son-in-law Ken Pruitt (1997), daughter-in-law Julie Ruhter (1993), brothers-in-law Marvin Schwilling (2008), Edward Ruhter (2007) Harold Schwindt (2015) and Donald Ruhter (2022).
The celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 11am, Olinger Hampden Mortuary (8600 E Hampden Avenue, Denver, CO 80231).
For donations in memory of Alfretta Ruhter, she would have been so pleased to have donations made to Mercy Ships (www.mercyships.org) or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).
We are so thankful for the prayers and assistance from our pastors, family, friends and Agape Healthcare Hospice.
Micah 6:8 He has told you, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
