Ruth P. Schmitz

Ruth Patricia Schmitz, 81, of Kearney, died June 13, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. A Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am, June 25, 2024 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church with Fr. Paul Colling officiating. Burial will follow the service at Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 pm, June 24, 2024 at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services and one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the University of Nebraska Foundation to the Glen Schmitz Family Scholarship Fund. The service will be streamed and can be viewed by visiting https://www.youtube.com/@princeofpeacecatholicchurc9605/streams and selecting live video Schmitz Funeral. The stream will be live at approx. 10:20 a.m. Ruth Patricia Schmitz was born in Deer Park, Washington on October 29, 1942 to Rev. Frank and Hazel Workentine. She was raised in Ekalaka, MT and Eagle Butte, SD and attended college at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT and Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD. While she was teaching business in high schools near Aberdeen, she completed her Masters in Bus. Education at Northern and then moved to California to teach in a Business College in Los Angeles for 1 year before moving to teach at Central State College in Warrensburg, Missouri. During the 4 years she taught at Warrensburg, she earned her Specialist in Bus. Administration degree and co-authored a college-level computerized accounting practice set text published by Macmillian Publishing. Ruth moved to Kearney in 1972 to begin teaching at Kearney State College. On May 17, 1974, Ruth was united in marriage to Raymond John Schmitz, who also taught at Kearney State College. She continued to teach as well as being Program Director for her department for 3 years and Department Chair for 4 years. While teaching, Ruth went on to write 9 more college level, computer related textbooks published by Mitchell Publishing and Mc-Graw Hill Publishing. Ruth retired from U.N.K. in 2004. She was a long-time member of the Eagles Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, and several school associations. She was also a member in Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Ruth enjoyed playing cards—especially bridge, traveling—frequently to Arizona or California during winter, and reading. Ruth is survived by her daughter Keli Viereck and husband Dave Naehring of Houston, TX; son John Schmuser of West Fargo, ND; granddaughters Amanda Viereck and Nicollet Schmuser; sister Olive and Billie Cochran of Green Valley, AZ; brother John Workentine and Rebecca of Charlotte, NC; as well as several nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded by her husband, son Glen Schmitz, parents, and sister Grace Thorson.

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Ruth P. Schmitz

October 29, 1942 - June 13, 2024