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Ruth

Ruth E. Langenegger

d. March 1, 2019

Ruth Ella (Wiebe) Langenegger, aged 78, went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 1, 2019. She passed away peacefully at her home near Elbing. She was the daughter of John B. and Bertha (Hiebert) Wiebe.

Her childhood was spent on a dairy farm near McLains where she learned to love the outdoors and share that love with her younger brother, John O. Wiebe. Ruth, John, and sister, Eileen attended the one-room school at McLains for grades one through eight. As a young girl, Ruth accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was later baptized at Newton Bible Church. Ruth got her high school education at Berean Academy, and it was there that she met the love of her life, Fred Langenegger. After high school, she attended Grace College of the Bible in Omaha.

She and Fred were married on April 9, 1960 and were the first couple to be married in the sanctuary at Newton Bible Church. Fred and Ruth farmed near Elbing all of their married life. Their home was blessed with two children, Debbie and Steve. An infant son, Jonathan, was with them for only four days and went to be with Jesus in 1972.

Ruth was an excellent mother. She was devoted to her children and also provided care for her parents during their difficult years. She was famous for her baking (especially zwieback) and for her many talents including gardening and sewing (often without a pattern). Every move counted and her efficiency allowed her to be part of the farming operation as well as an excellent manager of her household. One of her joys was to teach Sunday School classes. She and Fred taught the younger children at Swiss church for many years and later she taught the junior high girls’ class. Ruth and Fred were also counselors at the Grace Community Church’s annual productions of Judgment House. The extent of Ruth’s prayer ministry may never be known –but she learned to pray as a primary response to the joys and difficulties of life.

All of their neighbors appreciated the sight of Fred and Ruth as they sped around the cattle pens on their four-wheelers. Ruth loved working outside with Fred on the farm or going with him in the truck for feed.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Fred, daughter, Debbie (Stephen) Cowles, NW England, and son, Steve of McGregor, TX. Also by six grandchildren: Kristy (Cowles) Willis (married to Christopher), Wichita; Jonathan Cowles, Colorado Springs, CO (fiancé Jessica Ashworth, Fort Collins, CO); Joshua Cowles, Spokane, WA; Shae, Brecyn, and Makaylah Langenegger, all of Moody, TX. She is also survived by her older sister, Eileen (Virgil) Unruh of Newton and John (Loretta) Wiebe of Wichita.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her infant brother and sister, and infant son, Jonathan.

Friends may visit the family from 6:00 to 8:00 pm , Friday, March 8 in the Fireside Room at Grace Community Church, Newton. The celebration of life service will also be at Grace Community Church on Saturday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m. with a light lunch following. Graveside service will be at Swiss Cemetery on Butler Road at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up for Berean Academy.

 

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth E. Langenegger, please visit our flower store.

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