Bette Rowe

Ord — Ruth Esther Rowse, 81, of Ord, went peacefully home to be with her precious Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023.  She was surrounded by her loving husband and children. 

Visitation was held Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 at Hitchcock funeral home in Burwell.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 at the Burwell Baptist Church in Burwell. Pastor Joel Wentworth will officiate. 

Burial will be in Cottonwood Cemetery in Burwell.  

Memorials may be made to Burwell Baptist Church, Gideon International or Nebraska Christian School in Ruth's name.

Ruth was born Jan. 19, 1942 in North Platte to Hampson and Ruth (Coolidge) Smith, the youngest of two daughters. She was raised by Iva and Everett Smith (Hampson's parents) in North Platte for the first two years of her life, as her mother died from complications after her birth. When Ruth was almost three, Hampson married Gladys Green and the family was reunited back on the ranch at Chambers. Gladys loved and raised the girls as her own and she was adored and treasured as “mom” by them. 

Ruth attended the Gleed Country School, a one room school house just down the road from their place. Her and Virginia walked a mile and a half to school each day. 

When Ruth was young, her stepbrother Troxel Green would take her to the Baptist Church in Chambers on Wednesday nights, and that is where she gave her heart and life to Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.

Ruth graduated from Chambers High School in 1960 and went on to work at the post office in Chambers and the photography shop in O'Neill for the next two years. 

On May 1, 1962, Ruth married the love of her life Dan Rowse and they had three children together Debbie, Darla and Rodney. They lived on the Rowse Homestead for a number of years as Dan worked at Rowse Rakes. In 1973 they moved to Atkinson for a short period of time before moving back to Burwell at Rowse Rakes. Dan managed the family business and Ruth was a secretary there until Dan retired. For their 30th anniversary, they celebrated by taking a trip to Hawaii with Ron and Virginia. 

After retirement, they moved to their lake house on Sherman Dam before moving to Ord where they resided until recently. 

In 2000, they opened a jewelry store, Creative Designs in Ord. 

Ruth enjoyed crocheting doll purses, scarves, making beaded jewelry, knitting and reading. For 21 years Dan and Ruth went to Arizona for the winter months and this is where many memories were made with new treasured friends. Ruth enjoyed Bible studies and playing dominoes with the ladies. 

Ruth was a proud member of the Cedar Creek Berean Church, Ladies Gideon Auxiliary and faithfully attended Burwell Baptist Church. She was a faithful prayer warrior throughout her life. She will always be remembered for her love and prayers for her family. 

She was a very loved wife, mother, grandmother/great-grandmother, sister and friend and will be greatly missed. She will forever be in our hearts. 

Ruth is survived by her loving husband Dan Rowse of Ord; three children Debbie (Eric) Ballagh of Burwell, Darla (Gary) Tuma or Ord and Rod (Amy Jo) Rowse of O'Neill; her eight grandchildren Brandon (Katie) Ballagh, Heather (Justin) Ratliff, Charissa (Max) Fearnow, Gary (Kelsey) Tuma, Kimberly Tuma, Ty (Emily) Rowse, Cory (Samantha) Rowse and Casey Rowse; 14 great-grandchildren Sage, Riah and Tatym Ratliff, Lincoln, Aubryn and James Fearnow, Camden and Myles Ballagh, Morgan and Shiloh Tuma, Lettie and Danni Rowse and Lane and Raelynn Rowse with one great-grand baby on the way; one sister Virginia Rowse; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Hampson and Ruth Esther and Gladys, two stepbrothers Troxel and Marvin Green, one stepsister Bernice (Green) Reed, father- and mother-in-law Freeman and Betty Rowse and one brother-in-law Ron Rowse.