Ruby Zimmerman, 83

Ruby Zimmerman, 83, died Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, at St. John Lutheran Church in Beatrice. Interment will be at the Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice.

Visitation and a prayer service was held Monday in Blair, and is also scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Fox Funeral Home in Beatrice, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Ruby Brandt was born May 12, 1924, in Beatrice, to Henry and Emma (Stellar) Brandt. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Beatrice, and graduated from Beatrice High School in 1941.

On Oct. 5, 1947, she married Richard Zimmerman at St. John’s Church.

She grew up on the family farm during the hard days of the Great Depression. The family survived largely due to a prize dairy herd and because of the work ethic instilled in the family. She knew hard work, pride in doing a good job, and was always looking for more to do.

She worked at Store Kraft Manufacturing Company, helping to make airplanes during the war. She later worked at Tempo Department Store for 14 years, where she managed the fashion department. She then worked at the Beatrice Daily Sun Newspaper for 15 years.

She was a faithful volunteer at St. John Lutheran Church in Beatrice, where she taught Sunday School for 26 years, and served as the funeral chairman for 21 years.

Nursing her husband until his death from cancer was preparation for her volunteer work with lonely and terminal patients. She was a member of the Skillful Sisters Extension Club and the American Legion Auxiliary. She took great pride in her service on the State Traffic Safety Commission under Gov. Frank Morrison, where she traveled promoting the “Buckle UP” and defensive driving initiatives. Her hobby was following Nebraska Cornhusker football.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Roger Mathiesen of Blair; three grandchildren and their spouses; four great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Henry and Lorene of Lincoln; sister-in-law and spouse, Elda and Dean Walker of Beatrice.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; sister, Grayce; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Dorothy Brandt.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #188005891