Ruth Isabel Deckert

Ruth Isabel Deckert, 95, Arena, ND, went to be with the Lord on December 19, 2017. Services will be held at 10:30 am Saturday, December 23, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Friday, December 22, at Parkway Funeral Service. Burial will be held at the Mennonite Zion Cemetery, Arena, ND. Ruth was born on December 7, 1922, in Goodrich, ND, to Leonard and Rose Mertz. Her family moved south of Wing where she attended school in Lein Township. As a teenager Ruth worked for various families in the area. She later moved to Bismarck with her sister, Ella, where she worked for the Lucas Co. as a waitress. At the age of 18, she met the love of her life, Bernard Deckert, and they were united in marriage on June 18, 1945. The couple built their farm at Arena where Ruth resided until her death. She was active in the Mennonite Zion Church in Arena and the Nazarene Church in Tuttle. Her and Bernard were active members of the Gideon’s International for 38 years until his death, after which Ruth continued to be a supporter of the ministry. Ruth loved taking care of her family, cooking, baking, sewing, embroidering, and gardening. She always had a piece of pie and coffee for anyone who stopped by. Ruth loved her farm life and kept busy taking care of her lawn with her riding lawn mower. Ruth is survived by her four daughters and two sons-in-law, Carol Stevenson, Bremerton, WA, Lois Oster, Lincoln, ND, Linda (Larry) Stenson, Minot, and Bonnie (Scott) Doll, Washburn; 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Leroy (Margaret) Mertz, Bismarck, and James (Lois) Mertz, Wilton; sister-in-law, Burnette Teske, Moorhead, MN; brother-in-law, Orville (Maria) Deckert, Bismarck; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard; parents, Leonard and Rose; and her four sisters, Evelyn, Ella, Viola, and Jeanette. Memorials may be given to the Gideon’s International.