Ruth J. Smith

Ruth J. Smith, 83, of Paxton, IL, a former resident of Rantoul, IL, and Beattie, KS, died Monday, January 19, 2015 at the Heartland Healthcare Center in Paxton. A funeral services was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 24, at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville, KS. Burial was in the Beattie Union Cemetery. Ruth was born December 7, 1931 at Home, KS, the daughter of Ralph and Agnes Kupersmith Brooks, Sr. On July 22, 1950, she married Robert G. Smith at Marysville. He preceded her in death in 1989. Survivors include her son, Ronald (Barbara) Smith of Burlington, VT; daughter, Evelyn (Brian) Bielfeldt of Rankin, IL; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Beverly (George) Wallace of Tigard, OR; brother, Gerald (Jean) Brooks of Kansas City, MO; sister-in-law, Colleen (Bill) Lewis of Topeka, KS; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and five brothers, Ralph Brooks, Jr., Winton Brooks, Lester Brooks, Clifford Brooks and Byron Brooks. Ruth was a member of the First Methodist Church of Beattie. In 2011 she moved from Kansas to Rantoul and in 2014 to Paxton. She enjoyed baseball, quilting and gardening. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association and can be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth J. Smith, please visit our flower store.