Ruth Maras died peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, October 26th, 2024 at 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.

Livestreaming of the funeral service can be viewed at: https://fb.watch/vEZdIPceyU/

Visitation will be from 9:30-11 a.m. Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the Springfield United Methodist Church in Springfield.

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 India ink in his hand, assumedly to purchase. The shy young man, John, eventually worked up the courage to talk to Ruth, and they 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. Son Steve was added to the family in 1955. In 1957 Ruth and John moved to Tracy, MN. In 1963 the family moved to Springfield, MN where daughters Jill (1965) Wendy (1967), were born. Ruth and family eventually moved to 116 S. Hoyt (1971) where Amy (1971) and Rachel (1976) were born. She resided at S. Hoyt until 2019.

Ruth worked at Ruby's café for many years serving coffee and conversation. She was a very active member of the Springfield United Methodist Church, ladies circle, and adult choir. Over the years, Ruth enjoyed going "up north" for an annual week at the lake, 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 friends and family.

Farm girl Ruth was a cat and dog person, and she enjoyed her pet dogs: Snooper, Sheila, and Mitzy, and cats: Miss Sniff, Harvey, Harmon, and Caesar. She followed MN sports teams: local, (Springfield) college (MN Gophers), and professional (especially the Twins and Vikings). In retirement, she even learned how to play golf so that she could see her husband, John, who would play 2-300 rounds a summer.

Ruth (Ruthie) dearly loved and was loved by all of her family members. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She would take in any and all family events. Ruth loved music. In her home, music could always be heard playing from her CD player. 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 including all generations.

For those too young to remember or perhaps for those great (great, great) grandchildren who will never get the privilege of meeting Ruth, here's a picture. She was 5'5" tall, of a medium build, and right handed. Her eyes were a rare green with black hair (some might say very dark brown) and always styled in curls. Her fair Swiss facial skin was usually accented with red lip stick, and she could have easily set a horse. But Mom's enduring beauty was in the way she lived out 1 Peter 3:4. "The hidden character of her heart, expressed in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and calm disposition, which is precious in the sight of God", shone through in Ruth's interactions with every person. To know Ruth was to know love. Ruth's favorites: color (pink), candy bar (nut goodie), cake (poppy seed), music (hymns like "In the Garden", "Precious Lord Take My Hand" or "Amazing Grace") and bible verse (John 3:16). She possessed a joyful heart with a need to make fun and or laugh (really a kind of chuckle). I (Steve) want you to know that mom carried that light hearted humor to the last. While I assisted her early Wednesday and Thursday mornings she chuckled three (3) or more times finding humor in what I said, did, or didn't do!

Grateful for having shared her life are her three 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, Hazel; Kathryn (Jesse) Hohm, Elaina, Alexandra, Audri, Elizabeth; Jacob (Emily) Maras, Ezra, Primrose, Juniper, Sage; Alison (Kyle) Thyen, Lucia, Kolbe, Dominic, Simon, Isaac; Jill (Al) Manthei, John and Tina; Wendy (Jeff) Schuller, Jamie (Colton) Schroer, Evelyn, Judson; Benjamin (Makenna) Schuller, Greyson; sister Beulah Thomssen, sisters-in-law Faith Bock, Linda (Con) Tikkala; Mari Hansen; Annie (Bob) Syverson; brothers-in-law, Mardy (Annie) Schermerhorn; 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 (1976); grandparents John and Alvina (Radel) Bock and John & Anna (Korman) Weber; her parents Richard & Alma Bock; brothers Alvin, LeRoy, Milan, and Glen Bock; brothers-in-law Gordie Thomssen and Tom Hansen; and sisters-in-laws Betty and Shirley Bock.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Ecumen Pathstone Memory Care (Activities), Mayo Clinic Health Systems Hospice - Mankato, or the United Methodist Church in Springfield MN.