Ruth A. Summers

Ruth Summers passed away July 16, 2021 at age 67 at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.

Ruth Adaline Summers was born January 5th, 1954 at Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. She was the first born of four children to Heins and Tina Plehnert.  Ruth grew up on the family farm by Federal with her parents and three siblings.    

She met the love of her life, Ken Summers, when she was 17 years old and sparks flew quickly!  Less than a year later, they were wed in a small church service in Coronation.  Five years later, Ken & Ruth’s first child, Adaline was born.  Throughout the next seven years, three more daughters; Marlene, Violet, and Jennifer were welcomed to the family.  The family settled a few miles away from the Plehnert family farm by Federal.      

Ruth was a home maker and an incredible mom.  Ruth always had fresh baked bread and goodies on her table.  Ruth handled everything from raising the girls to gardening to helping with the sheep and pigs on the farm.  She loved animals, especially dogs, always having at least one indoor pooch for company throughout her years.  

Ruth was a patient, kind, and compassionate woman who loved being a wife, mom and grandmother!  Her girls knew that no matter what mistakes, or arguments they got into, she was always be there for them.  Her love never waivered or faltered, Ruth’s daughters could always count on her.

She was always willing to participate in any games the girls and grandkids wanted to play; being a master crib player, cards were a favourite however took time for other card games, board games, murder mystery games, badminton, even game shows on television!

She was always willing to try and convince dad to take the girls on a road or camping trip.  Some family favourites included trips to the Drumheller Royal Tyrell Museum and camping and fishing at Huber Dam and Capt Arye Lake.  Ruth spent hours listening to Ken play country music with his band.  One of those memorable music tours many years ago involved a large white camperized school bus that hauled the entire family to Grande Centre to a jamboree!   

Ruth was a green thumb who loved plants and flowers, being an encyclopedia of plant varieties!  She always had a lush plethora of house plants and succulents.  Every year before Ken passed, Ruth looked forward to the beautiful bouquet of flowers he would give her on their wedding anniversary.       

She loved solar and twinkle lights in her flower beds and loved watching the birds.  Her favorite past time usually involved a good book or word search puzzles!  Ruth loved cooking shows, game shows, and fiction crime shows. One of her all-time favourite movies was The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews therefore the kids grew up watching it every year at Christmas time.

One of Ruth’s hobbies included crocheting; she created and left behind beautiful throw blankets for her family.  

Ruth is lovingly remembered by her children, Adaline (Mike) Stephenson, Marlene (James) Janke, Violet Summers (Basit Rizwan), and Jennifer Whalen (Chadwick); grandchildren, Breeanne Summers, Eldon Janke, and Hayley Stephenson; brother, Ed (Lesa) Plehnert and family, Brad (Jess), Jack, and Lark, Karli Plehnert;  sister, Judy (Wade) Lindmark and family, Ryan, (Jua) and children, Henry and Archie, Barry (Tanis) and their children, Nash, Bo, Renn and Jayde, Robbie (Larissa) and child, Landon, and Brooke (Devin).

Ruth is predeceased by her husband, Ken Summers; her parents, Heins and Tina Plehnert, and her brother, David Plehnert.

A private service will be held at the Alliance Cemetery. 

If desired, memorial donations in Ruth’s honour may be made to STARS.  Email donations@stars.ca or STARS Donations, 1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary, AB T2E 8M7.    

Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.coronationfuneralhome.ca.

Thank you to the Coronation Funeral Home.