Ruth E. Harms

Ruth E. Harms, age 82, of the Risen Son Christian Village in Council Bluffs, IA, and formerly of Glenwood, IA, passed away at Risen Son on Saturday, July 18, 2009.

Ruth Evelyn Harms, one of three children of Ralph Biggs and Regina (Raasch) Biggs was born near Bridgewater, Iowa on January 25, 1927. Her childhood years were spent in Anita where she graduated from high school. Ruth moved to Omaha, Nebraska where she worked in the business office for Swift & Company, a local meat packing facility.

Ruth and Donald Willis Harms of Hollinger, Nebraska were married in Omaha on June 6, 1948. Their marriage was blessed with a daughter, Barbara Rae. They continued to live in Omaha until Swift moved a portion of their processing facility to Glenwood, Iowa. Ruth and Donald moved to Glenwood in 1969 and Ruth continued working for Swift until her retirement. Ruth was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Glenwood. She enjoyed walking, working crossword puzzles, flower gardening, and volunteer work wherever needed. Ruth's greatest enjoyment was the time she spent with her family.

Don and Ruth had been married nearly 35 years at the time of Don's death, at age 60, on June 3, 1983. Ruth continued to live in their Glenwood home and enjoy activities in her church and community. In 1998, she moved to a home she purchased in the Risen Son Christian Village near Council Bluffs. She eventually moved into the assisted living apartments at Risen Son. With her daughter, Barbara Million and husband Jim at the bedside, Ruth passed away in the skilled care unit at Risen Son on July 18, 2009, at the age of 82 years, 5 months, and 23 days.

In addition to her husband Donald, Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, brother Wayne Biggs and sister Norma Miller and husband Ken.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Barbara Million and her husband Jim of Bonner Springs, Kansas; grandsons, Jeff Million of Kansas City, Missouri and Brian Million and his wife Stephanie and their twins, Ben and Molly of Prairie Village, Kansas; other relatives and friends.

A memorial fund has been established.