Ruth N. Smith Sanderson

Ruth N. Sanderson, age 104, of Bartonville, passed away on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 in Morton. Ruth was born September 15, 1907, in Manito, Illinois. Her parents, Henry and Naomi (Harvey) Smith were farmers in the Mason County area for many years before moving to Peoria County. Ruth graduated from Brimfield High School and then attended what is now Illinois State University receiving her teaching certificate. She then taught school in a one- room school in Kickapoo, Illinois for several years. She boarded with a local family and performed all of the duties that come with teaching in a one-room school: teacher, janitor, maintenance, and tending the fire. On June 11, 1930, she married Thomas Sanderson and they lived in Bartonville for the rest of their married lives. He passed away in 1974. Since 2007, Ruth has been lovingly cared for by the extraordinary staff at Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton.

Ruth loved going on fishing vacations in Wisconsin with her family and friends. She had never learned to swim, so when she was in her sixties she enrolled in swimming classes at the YWCA in Peoria. She was active in the Oak Grove School PTA, Limestone High School adult education classes, and the Bartonville United Methodist Church. She especially enjoyed the women’s sewing/quilting group. She called herself a “stripper” because she cut up old rags to be used in making rugs that were sold at the church’s annual bazaar. One of her favorite hobbies was her garden and working with her flowers. She often said that when she was working inside and felt depressed, working in her garden made her forget all of her problems. Ruth's heart sang with music, but her family could not afford piano lessons. She could sit at any piano and play requested tunes by ear; she treasured her first piano at age 68. Birds at her bird feeder also lifted her spirit. She kept the feeder filled even on icy days when it was hazardous to walk outside.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Naomi Smith, her brothers Harvey and John, and her sisters Violet Hessling, Mildred Meier, and Margaret Pillman. Ruth is survived by her son Larry (Audrey) of Port Ludlow, Washington, two grandchildren, Beth(Tom Good) and Eric (Caroline) and great grandchildren Hadley and Porter Good and Abby and Molly Sanderson.

Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials in Ruth’s honor may be made to Apostolic Christian Restmor, Inc, or Bartonville United Methodist Church.