Ruth Jane Schaefer

Ruth Jane Schaefer, 84, of Taos, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Friday, December 11, 2020, at Heisinger Bluffs, surrounded by her family.

She was born September 29, 1936, the daughter of the late Louis Aloysius and Anna Regina (Schmidt) Benne.

She was a 1954 graduate from St. Peter’s Catholic School in Jefferson City.

She was married on April 14, 1956 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in St. Martin to Walter Henry Schaefer, who preceded her in death on January 14, 2019.

Ruth spent most of her career at Missouri River Regional Library until retirement. She also had worked for Howerton Electric Co., Missouri Department of Revenue, and Thomas Jefferson Library.

Ruth enjoyed dancing, traveling, sewing, crafts, TV game shows, watching St. Louis Cardinals Baseball and playing checkers with her grandkids. Ruth was a member of the Jefferson City Host Lions Club, 4th Degree St. Jude’s Chapter of the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary and a devoted member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Taos. Ruth was very active in her children’s school being a room mother and volunteering often. She loved being involved with the RCIA program at church and being a communion minster and lector.

Ruth is survived by her children, Michael (Connie) Schaefer, Wardsville; Joyce Wilson, Taos; Jane (Terry) Patten, Taos; seven grandchildren, Brad (Julie) Schaefer, Joseph Schaefer, Julie Wilson, Christine Wilson, Derek (Lacy) Wilson, Jessica Patten, Lauren (Keith) Buechter; and six great-grandchildren, Madison Backes, Chance Hardin, Elizabeth Jackson, Porter Schaefer, Gavin Buechter, Henry Buechter, and one on the way, three sisters, Juliann Rockers of St. Martin, Patty (Tommy) Whittle of Centertown, Betty Jo (Bill) Luebbering of St. Thomas and two brothers Jerry (Carol) Benne of Centertown, and Donnie (Mary Ellen) Benne of Centertown, in-laws Alvin Toebben of St. Martins, Harry Otto and Oscar Branson of Westphalia, and Nobert (Janet) Schaefer of Osage City, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Louis Schaefer, grandson Thomas Dean Schaefer, brother Louis Eugene Benne, and two sisters MaryLou Wieberg and Lavern Toebben, and in-laws Dorothy and Ferdinand Richter, Mary Catherine Otto, Joan Branson, Agnes Benne, Sylvester Lueke, Clarence Rockers, and Louis Wieberg.

Visitation will be 9-11 a.m. Thursday, December 17, 2020, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Taos.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Taos with the Rev. Michael W. Penn officiating. The service will be live-streamed for those who wish to watch remotely. The link can be found on Ruth’s obituary page under Tribute Wall at www.dulletrimble.com.

The general public is welcome to attend the services while following social distancing guidelines. Facial coverings are suggested while in attendance.

Burial will be in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Those wishing to send condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.