Ruth Ann Hoeft was born to Louis Martin Hoeft and Garnet Eugene Deel on June 11, 1957, the middle daughter of three: Older sister Cathy, and younger sister Mary. She grew up in Traverse City, graduating from Traverse City Senior High School in June 1975. Shortly after that, she reported for active duty with the U.S. Army, serving as a Legal Clerk from July 10, 1975 to July 7, 1978. While attending her MOS (military occupational specialty) course at Fort Ben Harrison, Indiana, she met her future husband, Ronald. They were married in Traverse City, Michigan, on July 10, 1976.
Their first daughter, Nicole, was born in Landstuhl, Germany in 1980, the same hospital Ron was born in 23 years earlier, while Ron was stationed there. Ron was reassigned back to the United States, and the family was stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and then Fort Devens, Massachusetts. When Ron was medically separated from the Army, the family had already made the decision to return to San Antonio. They moved in April 1986. Their second daughter, Heather, was born in December.
Ruth’s first choice for the Army was to become a nurse, but there was going to be considerable delays in getting into the advanced training. Now that she had the opportunity, Ruth went back to school and successfully completed a course of study at St. Phillips College and became a licensed vocational nurse. She worked at Northeast Baptist Hospital for 13 years and the VA Hospital for 6 years. Her last position was with LifeCare Hospital, where she worked for almost two years. She found purpose in helping people who were sick and injured, and loved serving people this way.
Ruth became a proud grandmother when Riley Alice was born on September 11, 2009 (a much better reason to remember that day). Riley has been her joy these past six years, and has been one of the greatest reasons for fighting her cancer.
Ruth is survived by her husband Ronald, daughters Nicole and Heather, granddaughter Riley, son-in-law Daniel, and two sisters, Cathy and Mary. A Memorial Service will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2507 Fredericksburg Rd. 78201. She will be buried at Fort Sam Houston with full honors at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, any donation you would like to make can go directly to Redeemer Lutheran Church or to the American Cancer Society.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18