Obituary: Elsie ‘Ruth’ Ratcliffe, 85, Scottville.

Ruth Ratcliffe

Obituary: Elsie ‘Ruth’ Ratcliffe, 85, Scottville.

Elsie “Ruth” Ratcliffe, 85, of Scottville, passed away at her home with her family by her side on  Wednesday, September 19, 2018. Ruth was born on July 20, 1933 in McBain to Emmet Earl and Elberta Rebecca (Gerdes) Puterbaugh. She graduated from Temple Academy in Troy, as Valedictorian in 1951.

Ruth married Dean E. Ratcliffe on June 18, 1960 in Clawson. Shortly after marriage, they moved to Alaska, then back to Michigan, on to California and back to Michigan again. Together they raised four children.

Ruth was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Ludington (formerly Washington Avenue Baptist Church).  She sang in the choir and served in the AWANA Clubs for many years.

Ruth loved organ and piano music. She was an avid quilter player who also loved making quilts for her family. Ruth loved spending time with her family and instilled her values and love to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ruth and Dean enjoyed getting together on Tuesday nights with friends at Community Table in Scottville for dinner and conversation.

Ruth will be greatly missed by her husband of 58 years, and her children, Gary (Mary) Ratcliffe of Ludington, Dale (Lissa) Ratcliffe of Wyoming, Mich., Nancy (Joel) Rahn of Byron Center, and Ron (Missy) Ratcliffe of Ludington; and her 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Hazel (Michael) Proctor and Ruby Adams.

Besides her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her siblings, Lily Neff, Fern Brewster, and Harold Puterbaugh.

A funeral will be held Monday, September 24, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Ludington. Family will greet friends starting at 10 a.m. at the church. Ruth will be laid to rest at Brookside Cemetery in Scottville.

Memorial contributions in Ruth’s name may be donated to the AWANA Clubs at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 121 N. Nelson Rd., Ludington, MI 49431.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington. www.oakgroveludington.com.