RIGGINS, Ruth Helen (Gilkison) - b. Februry 13, 1920 - d. August 23, 2020

[patyrn]

Ruth Helen Riggins, age 100, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away at Pioneer Ridge Skilled Nursing Facility on August 23, 2020.  She was born on February 13, 1920 to Charles and Olga Gilkison in Larned, Kansas.  She grew up on a farm near Zook, Kansas and spent one year in California.  Ruth was a big sister to three younger brothers, John, Dwight, and Paul.  She loved to laugh and tell stories about how she kept them in line.

Ruth graduated from Larned High School in 1937.  In the fall of 1937, she headed to college in Emporia, Kansas, attending Kansas State Teachers College, later known as Emporia State University.  While there, she met a young man named William Harper Riggins.  After earning her teaching degree, she and Bill were married in Zook, Kansas on July 20, 1941.

Soon after they were married, WWII began.  Bill and Ruth resided in Wichita, Kansas, working for Boeing building bombers.  Ruth was  supervisor because she had a college degree which was unusual for women at that time.  Later when Bill spent 13 months in the Pacific serving in the United States Army, Ruth cared for their two young daughters and managed through wartime with many shortages and rationing.

After the war, the family settled in Severy, Kansas where Bill took over the family hardware store, Riggins Hardware, that had been established in 1914.  Ruth began teaching in the Severy Public Schools.  Several years later, much to their surprise, they welcomed a son to complete their family.  Ruth finished her teaching career at West Elk Senior High School.  They moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 1998 to spent their retirement years.  Bill passed away in August 2002.

Ruth is survived by her three children, Bill (Stacy) Riggins of Lawrence, Kansas, Rochelle (John) Simons of Hendersonville, South Carolina, and Cheri Brown of Kalispell, Montana; ten grandchildren, John, Sonja, Sherri, Jeff, Naomi, Patric, Matthew, Natasha, Nicolette, and Nash; and 22 great-grandchildren, Whitney, Samantha, Jackson, Conner, Rochelle, Riley, Drew, Quinn, Alexandria, Leaha Maree, Aiden, Avery, Regan, Cameron, Nicholas, Benjamin, Alida, Elaine, Nova, Reuben, Albert, and Busy; and one great-great granddaughter.  Ruth is also survived by her brother, Paul (Bettie Jo) Gilkison and sister-in-law, Lola Mae Gilkison.

Graveside services will be held at South Lawn Cemetery in Severy, Kansas on Friday, August 28, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.  Memorial contributions in Ruth's name can be made to the Trinity Luthera Church in Lawrence or the Severy United Methodist Church and can be mailed to or left with the funeral home.  Services have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)