02/17/2016
Ruth Maxine (Wilson) Beebout, age 95, died Feb. 17, 2016, of natural causes in La Porte City, Iowa.
Ruth, the first of four children, was born August 5, 1920, in Haven, Kan., to Mack Wilson and Signe Peterson Wilson. The couple had met in 1918 when both were in the military; Signe was a nurse and Mack an infantryman. Ruth moved with her family to Iowa in 1932 and graduated from Knoxville High School in 1938. She married John Beebout in 1938. There were three children, John Jr., Robert and Kim.
Ruth continued her education as an adult and received her B.S. degree from Northwest Missouri State University in 1972. She taught part-time for seven years. Ruth was a homemaker and preacher's wife serving in the church in many capacities. She directed various choirs for 25 years including several years as the director of the hand bell choir. After her husband, John, retired in 1982 the couple participated in mission programs for the church. They traveled widely joining others in hands-on building projects as well as spiritual fellowship.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Knoxville, the United Methodist Women, Chapter M of P.E.O. and a District Officer of United Methodist Women.
Ruth was a talented artist, she liked to sew, she painted and carved wood caricatures until macular degeneration robbed her of her eyesight.
Ruth is survived by three children; John Jr. of New York City, Robert and wife, Sandra of La Porte City, Kim Wilkinson of Lee’s Summit, Mo. The grandchildren are Keith, Nichole, Michael and Victoria. In addition there are several great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. She is also survived by Sister Lorene and husband Barnett, of Stockton, Calif.; brother-in-law Jim Oxford of Anacortes, Wash., and sister-in-law Marjorie of San Carlos, Calif.
There are eleven surviving nephews and nieces including nephew-in-law Ancil Borchert and niece Sandra Keller who live in Knoxville. She was preceded in death by her husband John, mother Signe, father Mack, sister Ruby and brother Virgil.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Knoxville on the March 19. A lunch in the West Fellowship Hall will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in memory of Ruth to the United Methodist Church in Knoxville.