Ruth Marie (Bock) Maras
Ruth Marie (Bock) Maras died peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, October 26, Ecumen Pathstone in Mankato, MN.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the Springfield United Methodist Church in Springfield. Pastor Michael Baker will officiate. Burial will follow in the Springfield City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the Springfield United Methodist Church in Springfield.
To leave an online condolence for the family, or to sign the guestbook, please visit: www.mvfh.org.
Ruth Marie (Bock) Maras was born June 21, 1935 to Richard Conrad Bock and Alma Louise (Weber) Bock in their Vail Twp Redwood County MN farm home. She graduated from Wabasso, MN High School in May, 1953. After high school Ruth worked in a variety store in Redwood Falls MN where she met a young man wandering the store with a bottle of Indian ink, assumedly to purchase. The shy young man eventually worked up the courage to talk to Ruth; they enjoyed a brief engagement, and were married on March 24, 1955.
The newlyweds spent a short year working and living in California before returning to Redwood Falls MN to be near both of their families. In 1957 Ruth and John moved to Tracy MN where she worked for J.C. Penny. In 1963 the family moved to Springfield MN and eventually moved to 116 S Hoyt where she resided until 2019. At the time of her death, she resided with the Pathstone Community in Mankato, MN.
Ruth worked at Ruby’s café for many years serving coffee and conversation. She was a member of the Springfield United Methodist Church where she was very active in her church. Over the years, Ruth enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening, bowling, neighborhood birthday coffees, delivering meals on wheels, and especially her faith calling of sharing her baked goods (cookies, buns, and more) with many. Farm girl Ruth was a cat and/or dog person enjoying her pet dogs, Snooper, Sheila, Mitzy; cats, Harvey, Harmon, and Caesar; and following all MN sports teams; local, college, and professional, even the Twins and Vikings. She especially enjoyed her family and grandchildren. She would take in any and all family events. For 14 years she and John traveled many miles to see The Maras Sisters and Jacob. Grandma visits were extremely important to her as were family gatherings of every generation. She even learned how to play golf so that she could see her husband John who would play 2-300 rounds a summer after both were retired. Ruth loved music. In her home, music could always be heard playing from her CD player. Ruth (Ruthie) dearly loved and was loved by all of her family members.
Grateful for having shared her life are her three (3) children, 10 grandchildren, and 25 great grandchildren – Steven (Joyce) Maras – Angela (Tim) Hoekman, Isaiah, Annaliese, Tobiah; Lindsay (Bill) Sunde, Willem, Lily, Willard, Layne; Krystal (Craig) Pederson, Camille, and Hazel; Kathryn (Jesse) Hohm and daughters; Elaina, Alexandra, Audri, and Elizabeth; Jacob (Emily) Maras and children Ezra, Primrose, Juniper, and Sage; Alison (Kyle) Thyen and children Lucia, Kolbe, Dominic, Simon, and Isaac; Jill (Al) Manthei – John and Tina; Wendy (Jeff) Schuller – Jamie (Colton) Schroer, Evelyn, Judson and Benjamin (Makenna), Greyson; sister Beulah Thomssen and sister-in-laws Faith Bock, Linda (Con) Tikkala; Mari Hansen; Annie (Bob) Syverson; brothers-in-laws, Mardy (Annie) Schermerhorn; and Jeff (Diane) Schermerhorn; and many nieces and nephews.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years John (2017), daughters; Amy (1971), and Rachel (1975); grandparents John and Alvina (Radel) Bock and John and Anna (Korman) Weber, her parents Richard and Alma Bock, brothers; Alvin, Le Roy, Milan and Glen Bock, and brother-in-laws Gordie Thomssen, and Tom Hansen; and sister-in-laws, Betty and Shirley Bock.