Ruth Walker

A celebration of the life of Ruth Walker, 96-year-old Buffalo resident who passed away April 7, 2020, in the care of her loving attendants at the Amie Holt Care Center in Buffalo, will be held Saturday August 1^st at 10:00 a.m. at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Buffalo with Pastor Gerald Heinicke officiating. Interment will be in Willow Grove Cemetery with graveside services to immediately follow the funeral.  Donations in Mrs. Walker’s memory may be made to the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church or the Buffalo Senior Center in care of the Harness Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams in Buffalo. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com

Ruth Mary Walker was born on August 6, 1923, in Zeeland, North Dakota to Henry and Mary Reiner.  She was Baptized on September 9, 1923, and later confirmed on July 24, 1937, in the Lutheran Church in Zeeland.  She grew up and went to school in Zeeland and attended Zeeland High School.  After high school, she fulfilled her teenage dream of living in California when, at age 19 she moved to Orange County, California where she was a nanny for the Grietl family.  During WWII she was employed by Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica.  She was married on August 12, 1944, in Los Angeles, California to Donald Walker and they made their home in Los Angeles where they were both employed by Douglas Aircraft and Don was a supervisor.  Don joined the U.S. Marine Corp and served during WWII while Ruth remained in Los Angeles.  After Don was discharged, they moved to Hawaiian Gardens, California where they had their two children Janet and Don Jr.  In 1953 they moved to Gillette, Wyoming, and were employed at the Ted Norfolk Ranch.  In 1961 they moved to Buffalo, Wyoming where Ruth was employed at the Veteran’s Home of Wyoming.  She later worked for the Johnson County Memorial Hospital as the supervisor of the laundry department for 23 years.  Don passed away in September of 1976 and Ruth continued working at the hospital.  She retired on June 30, 1989, and continued living in Buffalo until her death.

Ruth enjoyed cake decorating, crocheting, sewing, all crafts, and playing cards, pool, and Bingo.  She spent 23 years doing volunteer work for the Amie Holt Nursing Home, but her passion was being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by one daughter, Janet Jelly and her husband Dale of Buffalo; one son, Donald Walker of Pueblo, Colorado; five grandchildren, Tracey Jelly and his wife Sarah of Hawaii, Nicolette Walker of Pueblo, Ian Walker and his wife Kelley of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Jared Walker and his wife Brittany of North Carolina, and Glenn Farrell and his wife Cheyne of Livingston, Montana; and six great-grandchildren, Amanda Pugh of Sheridan, Wyoming, Tristan and Maia Mandrey of Pueblo, Colorado, Dennis Farrell and his wife Sherri and Grace and McClain Farrell all of Livingston, Montana.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one grandson Patrick Jelly, five brothers, two sisters, five sisters-in-law, and two brothers-in-law.