Ruth K. Monk
1925-2016

Ruth K. Monk, 90, Skidmore, MO died Friday, April 22, 2016, at Nodaway Nursing Home, Maryville.

Ruth was born December 12, 1925, at the family farm home, the only daughter of George G. and Bernice Linville Knepper. She attended grade and high school in the Daleview Consolidate/School District and was a member of the Class of '44, and Valedictorian. It was the last senior class to graduate from the Daleview High School. She went one year to Northwest Missouri State University and then entered nurse's training at Missouri Methodist Hospital, St. Joseph, MO, graduating in September 1948. She was united in marriage to Milo L. Monk, June 1, 1947, and to this union, two sons were born - Michael K. and James. P.

Ruth was active in nursing until mid-1960, when she and her family moved from St. Joseph to the family farm where she lived until her death. She was very active in the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, having joined the Corp. Fred Seifert Post Auxiliary #1668 in December, 1948, and was a continuous member until her death. She held the office of District VFW Auxiliary President for one and a half terms, the half term was to fill out the year after the resignation of the elected District President who had resigned. She held many other offices on the local, District and State levels. She and her husband were active members in Skidmore Chapter #402, Order of Eastern Star, where Ruth served two separate terms as Worthy Matron and one term as District Deputy Grand Matron, as well as many other offices in the chapter. She was still a member at the time of her death. She had also been a member of the Sew and Sew Club. She served on the Advisory Board of the Atchison-Holt County Family Guidance Center for over 25 years and until 1996 was secretary of the Family Guidance Center Advisory Board serving Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway and Worth Counties in Missouri. She was a member of the Fairfax United Methodist Church, Fairfax, Missouri, and had served on various church committees in late years as well as being the lay representative of that church to the annual Missouri West Church Conference for three years. She was the teacher for the 3M class at her church for a number of years.

Ruth was employed as a nursery aide at the Fairfax Community Hospital from September 16, 1993 until March 1, 2005, caring for over a thousand babies during that time, a position she enjoyed so very much.

She was an enthusiastic gardener, enjoying canning and freezing her garden produce, making jams and jellies - many that went as gifts to many friends through the years. Her favorite recreations were sewing, reading and family gatherings, particularly with her grandchildren. She was very fond of animals, always having a dog or two and one or more cats to keep her company.

Survivors include sons Mike (Pam) Monk, Skidmore and Jim Monk, Topeka, KS; granddaughter Kimberly Leigh Monk, Kansas City, MO and grandson, Scott Anthony Monk, Topeka, KS and several cousins and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Milo Monk (April 3, 1989) an only brother, 2nd Lt. Ralph L. Knepper, killed in action during World War II, and a premature infant son.

A Visitation will be Monday, from 7:00-8:00 PM at Price Funeral Home, Maryville and will be followed by O.E.S. Services, Rosanna Chapter #262.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at the Fairfax, MO United Methodist Church, followed by burial in Walkup's Grove Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Fairfax United Methodist Church or Alzheimer's Dementia Research, c/o Alzheimer's Association,
P.O. Box 9601, Washington, DC 20090-6011.