Ruth E. Harpstead, age 90, of Stevens Point, died at home on October 19, 2018 surrounded by her family.

Ruth was born at home December 11, 1927 to the late Helmuth and Ida (Hild) Boettcher in Grant Township  near Storm Lake, IA. She attended grade school at Zion Lutheran and graduated high school in Newell, IA in 1946. In 1949, Ruth became a Registered Nurse, receiving her training at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines.

Ruth was proud of her career in nursing and held positions at Bethesda Hospital in St Paul, MN, Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in Jersey City, NJ, the MN Girl Scout Camp at Buffalo, Doctor’s Hospital in Tacoma, WA and Buena Vista County Hospital in Storm Lake, IA. In 1955 she took a nursing position at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Ft. Snelling in MN.

She met Milo I. Harpstead in the Twin Cities Lutheran Young Adults, and they were married on June 15, 1963. After a honeymoon to Europe, Ruth and Milo settled in the Stevens Point area, where he was teaching. She worked for St Michael’s Hospital until dedicating her life to her children, Karl and Ida. From 1975 to 1983, Ruth worked part-time for the Central Wisconsin Veteran’s Home in King, WI teaching nursing assistants. She later found a teaching position at Midstate Technical College in Stevens Point, and retired from there in 1992.

Ruth will be remembered for her passion to help others, her generous hospitality, and her love and devotion to her family. Ruth loved to ski with her family all her life. In her spare time, she enjoyed golfing, square dancing, and curling. Ruth and Milo loved to travel, visiting all 50 US states and 46 countries, including living in Nigeria and Malaysia. Ruth and Milo enjoyed hosting family and friends at their hobby farm near Polonia, WI. Ruth and her husband were very active with the Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners program, especially the annual glasses-sharing mission to Nicaragua.

Ruth treasured her faith and was a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Stevens Point.

She is survived by her loving husband, Milo Harpstead; children, Karl (Amy) Harpstead and Ida (Jeff Reynebeau) Harke; grandchildren, Madeleine, Samuel, Claire, and Lillian Harke, Eleanore, Katharine, Nicolaus, and Benjamin Harpstead; brother, Lloyd (Nora) Boettcher; sisters, Martha White and Carol (Ed) Maas, brother-in-law, Dale (Mary) Harpstead; nieces, nephews and friends.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Lorenz “Bud” (Doris) Boettcher, sister, Lorraine (Oscar) Clausen, sister-in-law, JoAnn Boettcher and brother-in-law, Lyle White.

A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 26, 2018 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Clay Schmit presiding. A time of visitation will be held on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Boston Funeral Home and at the church on Friday an hour prior to the service. Traditional burial will be held Central Wisconsin Veteran Memorial Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made to www.bostonfuneralhome.net.