Ruth Penner

Ruth Eby Penner, age 86, of North Newton, KS, passed away on March 30 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Ruth is survived by her husband Marvin Penner, daughter Vicki Penner, husband Richard Minder, granddaughter Sophia and grandson Joseph and also by her son Larry Penner, wife Rebecca Weidner, grandson Zachary and granddaughter Alison.

Ruth was born May 4, 1938, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Henry Eby and Anna Z. Eby and was the second youngest of nine siblings: Martin, Ethel, Warren, Roy, Mary, Henry, Aaron, Ann, and Ivan.

Ruth was a beloved spouse, mother and grandmother. She was a registered nurse and later in life an ordained Mennonite pastor. She and Marvin met in church service in Haiti and lived a life dedicated to service as Ruth nursed, pastored, and raised her family on her husband’s family farm in Beatrice, Nebraska, before the couple moved to central Kansas.

In her years of ministry she served as interim pastor of Beth-El Mennonite Church of Colorado Springs, CO, First Mennonite Church of Hillsboro, KS, Manhattan Mennonite Church, Manhattan, KS, and as pastor of New Creation Mennonite Church, Newton, KS.

Memorial will be held at Kidron Bethel Retirement Center in North Newton at 11:00 am on June 12, 2025. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Mennonite Central Committee and Kidron Bethel Village.

Memorial contributions may be left in care of Petersen Funeral Home.