Ruth M. Rosencranz, age 66, of Spearfish, died Friday, May 18th, 2012, at the Belle Fourche Healthcare Center.
Ruth M. Bickerdyke was born September 22, 1945, in Butte County, SD. She was the daughter of Theodore and Louise (Teigen) Bickerdyke. Ruth was raised on the family ranch near Capitol, MT, where she also attended country school. In 1962 she graduated from the Belle Fourche High School.
On November 24, 1962, Ruth was united in marriage to William A. Rosencranz in Belle Fourche. To this union five children were born, Susan, Mary, Tim, Todd, and Ted. Following their marriage, Ruth and Bill lived in Carter County, MT, and later they moved to Sundance, WY. In 1968 they moved to the Bickerdyke ranch near Capitol, MT, where they ranched for several years. In 1975 they moved to Spearfish, and in 1989 they moved back to the ranch, where they lived until 2008, when they returned to Spearfish.
Ruth was a 1977 graduate of Black Hills State University. In 1987 she received her Master's Degree in Education from Black Hills State University, and in 1988 she received her Master's Degree in Education from Lesley College Graduate School, located in Cambridge, MA. Ruth was a teacher for most of her life, whether in a classroom or not. From 1978 to 1989 she taught in the Crook County Wyoming School District. For two years, she taught at the Sky Ranch for Boys, Camp Crook, SD. From 1991 to 1997, she taught school in the Harding County School District in Painter, Camp Crook, and Buffalo, SD. Ruth also was a substitute teacher for many years at schools located in Sturgis, Belle Fourche, Spearfish, and Harding County.
Ruth was a member of the South Dakota Education Association, Harding County Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma Teacher Society, Diligent Doers Extension Club in Carter County MT, and she served on the Butte/Lawrence County Fair Board from 1984 to 1989.
Ruth will be remembered for having a great heart and a selfless lifestyle. She loved people and would do most anything to help someone. She was a strong supporter of education and she believed in it. She had a great smile and she loved music. She played piano by ear, enjoyed quilting, and baking cakes for many people. She was a teacher of life to her family and anyone she got to know.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Bill of Spearfish; daughters, Susan (Daniel) Proefrock of Belle Fourche, Mary (Tom) Riley of Belle Fourche; sons, Tim (Jessica) Rosencranz of Whitewood, Todd Rosencranz of Fruitdale, Ted (Stephanie) Rosencranz of Beulah, WY; sister, Theo (Bruce) Yanzick of Absarokee, MT; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Louise Bickerdyke; and brother, Paul Bickerdyke.
Services will be held Wednesday May 30, 2012, at Pine Slope Cemetery, with Pastor Susan Fox officiating. Following the service, a time of fellowship will be held at the Bowman Memorial Hall in Hermann Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Funeral arrangements are with Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.