Ruth Arthur of Centennial, Wyoming went home to be with her Lord and Savior on December 26, 2017 after a hard-fought battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. Ruth was born on April 11, 1958 to Tony and Annie Ortega and married the love of her life, Steve Arthur on June 21, 1976.
Ruth was an accomplished floral designer and business woman for over 42 years’. As a young minority woman with only a high school education, she taught herself flower design and business. In 1982, she started a floral business (The Posey Patch) and sold it in 1990 to raise her four kids and help her husband run their ranch. However, in 1992, Ruth started working at Fresh Flower Fantasy after the owner was in a life altering car accident. Shortly after, Ruth bought the business and owned it for 20 years before selling it and retiring in 2013.
Ruth was never afraid of hard work and it showed in what she had accomplished. In 1995, she was awarded the Small Business of the year for the State of Wyoming and the Minority Small Business of the year for the United States Small Business Council. She also received a Wyoming Governors Proclamation from Governor Jim Geringer in 1996. Ruth was active in a number of organizations over the years including Freedom has a Birthday, Mrs. Wyoming, Cowboy Joe Club, Albany County Cowbells, Laramie Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Junior Women’s Club, Christian Women’s Club, Leading Bible studies at the Care Center, decorating the Ivinson Mansion, Pistol Pete fund raisers, teaching business classes at the University and local schools, and mentoring numerous women in business. This year, Ruth was nominated as a Woman of Influence by the Wyoming Business Report and was among the top seven. She was continually finding a way to serve and give to the Laramie community.
Despite all of her accomplishments, her greatest love was Jesus, her husband, kids, grandkids, and those she adopted as family over the years. Her greatest achievement was serving her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in all that she did. She would tell anyone who would listen about her Lord, His love for her and His love for others. She strove to live her life so that others would see Christ through her. Even while she battled her cancer, she kept her eyes focused on God and continually told people how the Lord was preserving her, living by the verse Psalms 16:1 “Preserve me oh Lord, for in thee do I put my trust”.
Ruth is preceded in death by her father Tony Ortega, brother Ernie Ortega, and sister Norma (Ortega) Record. Ruth is survived by her mother Annie Ortega, Laramie, Wyoming; husband of 41 years, Steve Arthur, Centennial Wyoming; Christina (Trevor) Hiegel, Laramie, Wyoming; Jamie (George) French, and grandson Wyatt of Laramie, Wyoming; Elizabeth (Derek) Zimmer, and grandsons Stephen and Gunner Laramie, Wyoming; son Michael Arthur, Wenatchee, Washington; sisters Robin (Ted) Riegel, Laramie, Wyoming; and Renee (Troy) Gaddis, of Dallas, TX; and numerous friends and family.
Services will be held on December 29, 2017 at 2:00 PM, at First Christian Church in Laramie, WY. Reception to follow. Donations can be made to the Ruth Arthur Memorial at PO BOX 323, Centennial, Wyoming, 82055.
We are creating an audio keepsake for the family of Ruth Arthur that has recorded messages from friends and family as a Celebration of Ruth Arthur’s life. We would love to hear your voice talking about a special time you shared together, or what you think makes Ruth Arthur uniquely special.
If you’d like more tips about what to say, please visit http://www.LifeOnRecord.com and click on the “CALLER TIPS” link towards the top right.
Here’s how to record your message:
1) Call LifeOnRecord, 1-800-437-3009
2) When prompted, enter your Invitation Number: 38130
3) Record your message after the tone. When finished you can either hang up or press the # key. If you press the # key you’ll be given options to listen to your recording, accept your recording, or re-record it.
Instead of calling in, you can also record a voice memo on your smart phone, upload a recording, or record live audio. Please visit https://lifeonrecord.com/faqs/alternate-ways-of-contributing-recordings for more information.
– Jamie
37 Comments To "Ruth Arthur"
#1 Comment By Larry and Kathy Davis On December 27, 2017 @ 9:11 am
I am sorry about the passing of Ruth. Am praying for all the family at this time of great loss. She was a special Lady.
#2 Comment By Allan & Sylvia Parvin On December 27, 2017 @ 9:34 am
Condolences
#3 Comment By Russell and Rojean Payne On December 27, 2017 @ 9:43 am
Ruth, knowing her love for our savior Jesus Christ, is where she wants to be. When you lose a great person that you know or is in your family, is very hard, but is easier when you know that the Lord or Jesus has plans for us. Ruth’s love for our Savior and the knowledge she has taught her family and friends has lightened the load of sorrow, but Ruth will never be forgotten. Ruth and the Arthur family will be in our prayers.
#4 Comment By Peter and Cheryl (Emerson) Rempel On December 27, 2017 @ 12:36 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you as you rejoice in precious Ruth’s homecoming and feel the tremendous loss of her smile and love day by day, moment by moment. We are continuing in prayer.
#5 Comment By Donna F Thompson On December 27, 2017 @ 12:39 pm
I’m so sorry you have lost a very important person in your lives. May knowing she is no longer suffering help you through this difficult time. Remember the good times to get you through this hard time. My prayers are with you.
#6 Comment By Trudy Schoonover On December 27, 2017 @ 1:32 pm
Oh this is miserable news. Ruthie was a great gal that inspired many I’m sure. She never forgot old friends and we will all miss her bright smile. My sincerest condolences to the family.
#7 Comment By Lisa Story (Molina) On December 27, 2017 @ 6:01 pm
Dear Ruth and family,
We ‘ve walked alot of similar and difficult paths together and you were there as a mentor friend and surrogate sister, mom, and auntie to me and my kids through the worst of times. I’m proud to know you were loving and trusting Jesus right up until you stood before Him and He welcomed you home unashamed to call you His child! Steve we will be thinking of you and praying for you as you grieve your best friend and wife and the girls and Mike as well. May you all have as strong as faith and perserverence as your mom did! I love you guys. With love: Jon & Lisa Story (Molina), Briana (Molina) and Kevin Clark & Adelyn (Kansas City, MO) , Jon Jr & Allie Molina (Denver, CO), Jessah Molina & Carisa Molina (Omaha, NE)
#8 Comment By Kyle Riley On December 27, 2017 @ 6:31 pm
I was very sad to hear the news of the passing of Mrs. Arthur. I lived down the road and always enjoyed having friendly neighbors. Mrs. Arthur was warm and kind, but also one of the strongest people that I have met. Her ability to bring order from chaos is something that I admire more now than when I was younger. My best wishes and prayers to the entire Arthur family.
#9 Comment By Rick and Audrey Melone On December 28, 2017 @ 7:11 am
We extend our deepest sympathy to you all. We will miss Ruth’s infectious smile and warm personality. She was dear to us and we cherish seeing her before her passing. She will be missed by many.
#10 Comment By Shelly Powers On December 28, 2017 @ 11:40 am
My thoughts and prayers are with you ALL.
I was a schoolmate with Ruth in junior high school. Many good memories of Ruth.
May God be with you ALL in the coming days.
#11 Comment By Anonymous On December 28, 2017 @ 12:34 pm
A Beatiful Lady inside an
d out.
Shirley Christensen
A Beautiful Lady inside and out
.
#12 Comment By Jim and Pam Bartush On December 28, 2017 @ 1:32 pm
Thoughts and prayers for your family, Ruth was a wonderful ,caring person.
#13 Comment By Shawn ans Nancy Huffer On December 28, 2017 @ 1:43 pm
We were very sad to hear of Ruth’s passing. She was a good friend and a great woman. She will be missed by all who knew her.
#14 Comment By Cindy Keller On December 28, 2017 @ 3:45 pm
My condolences to Jamie, Christina, Liz and Family…your mom was such a neat lady and I always enjoyed talking with her! May she rest in peace…she will be missed by many!
#15 Comment By Tonia Ridge On December 28, 2017 @ 8:50 pm
We are truly saddened by the passing of Ruth. She was an amazing lady. She definitely was a child of God,. She was blessed with so many talents. We hold dear the memories of her playing the piano for our wedding, being neighbors when we lived on Herrick Lane and the many trips to Cheyenne in her Jeep Cherokee.
She really touched our hearts and will be dearly missed. I will be praying for Steve and the family, for God’s peace and strength.
Tonia and Kent Ridge
Cheyenne, Wyoming
#16 Comment By Gene and Sandy McCarty On December 28, 2017 @ 8:51 pm
Our deepest condolences to Steve and family. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. Ruth was a wonderful and caring person, wife, mother and friend.
#17 Comment By Melissa Sinner On December 28, 2017 @ 9:05 pm
To my dear cousins and uncle, I am so sorry for your loss, but know she is in a place of happiness and joy. All my love to all of you!!
#18 Comment By Theresa Korneisel On December 28, 2017 @ 9:15 pm
So sorry to hear of this loss to those who loved Ruth. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Theresa Kirchner Korneisel
#19 Comment By Anonymous On December 29, 2017 @ 9:26 am
Ruth will be sorely missed in this community. I am so very sorry for your loss, Arthur family!
#20 Comment By Saundra Robbins On December 29, 2017 @ 10:23 am
Dale and I send our condolences to the whole family of Ruth. She was a wonderful lady who led many people to Jesus. She will be missed.
#21 Comment By Sharon , Tim and Christian Link On December 29, 2017 @ 1:06 pm
Our condolences to all of you. May God bring you peace and comfort in the midst of your grief. May you hold to the Blessed Hope that we will see Ruth again! Sending Love and Prayers
Grace & Peace,
The Link family
#22 Comment By Anonymous On December 29, 2017 @ 2:33 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. Your old friend, Leonard Dietz
#23 Comment By Kristi Hufty On December 29, 2017 @ 6:09 pm
Our condolences to the family. Such a difficult time for you all. She left you such a legacy. Was a rock for me on more than one occasion in deciding on flowers for services. Prayers you will find peace. Kris and Bob Hufty
#24 Comment By carolina winn On December 30, 2017 @ 7:41 pm
i am so sorry for your loss .she was the best boss i have ever had. i will miss you alot
#25 Comment By Brenda stewart On December 30, 2017 @ 10:59 pm
I would just like to say I am not even sure if Ruth beautiful daughter will remember me from the shop or sledding up in Centennial or at the Church a few times, but God knows I thought the world of your mother and she treated me so wonderful. I remember hitting her car in the parking lot one time at the eye doctor and coming in to find out who’s car it was and Ruth was so nice about it and surprised I came in to report what I had done, she was such a lovely lady I know this is an angel God has received with open arms!! So sorry for your lost but will be together again God Bless.
#26 Comment By Brenda stewart On December 30, 2017 @ 11:17 pm
I just wrote out my whole heart and soul on hear and it somehow got deleted, so how I can still express the wonderful feeling I had for such a wonderful lady whom I truly admired. I new Ruth from her flower shop to the church in Centennial to sledding on Centennial to just living in Laramie. Once I was in the eye doctor office and I went to leave and in the parking lot I hit another car, so I came in to tell who ever the car belong to what had happened and it was Ruth she was so nice and surprised I came to to tell what I had done, but she realized I think that like her I really wanted to do the right thing. She was a jewel and I am very sad she has left us sad for her family but I know the Lord is over joyed to have an angel like her and one day her family will be with her again and I as well till then missed she will be.
#27 Comment By Debbie Hunt On December 31, 2017 @ 5:54 am
My condolences to Ruthie”s family She was truly a special person.
#28 Comment By Ann Palomba On December 31, 2017 @ 7:19 am
So sorry for your loss.
#29 Comment By Rose Hahn (Clymer) On December 31, 2017 @ 7:35 am
I am so sorry for your loss. I remember Ruth from school what a kind and loving person she was then, I can see by reading that only grew. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
#30 Comment By Cindy Posey On December 31, 2017 @ 8:07 am
A true angle has gone to be with our Lord. My prayers to Steve, Christina, Jammie, Liz ,Mike and the entire family. I will always remember a time when Ruth opened her home for the women of the church to have a P.J. Bible Study.
#31 Comment By Phyllis Koenig On December 31, 2017 @ 8:16 am
I am so sorry to hear of Ruth’s passing. She was an amazing woman. Prayers and thought to all her family and friends. So thankful for her testimony and that I had the privilege to know Ruth.
#32 Comment By David and Pam Smith On December 31, 2017 @ 10:09 am
The Family is in our thoughts, so sorry to hear about Ruth’s passing. Thoughts and prays are with you all.
#33 Comment By Julie Stahl On December 31, 2017 @ 10:16 am
I am so sorry to hear of Ruth’s passing. I loved her love for our Lord. The lives she touched in such a pisitive way should be a lesson to us all. She will be a strong Angel for our God.
Love and prayers to the family.
Julie Stahl
#34 Comment By Amanda Sanchez On December 31, 2017 @ 10:21 am
My condolences go out to Ruth’s family. She was a wonderful woman and loved her family very much.
#35 Comment By Rick Jansen On December 31, 2017 @ 11:00 am
Steve, Jamie, George, and families,
Please accept my deepest condolences. I know Ruth was the heart and soul of the family. She was known for her floral designs, community involvement, and dedication to her family.
#36 Comment By Bob and Eddie Juve On January 1, 2018 @ 10:33 am
Steve and family,
Bob and I send our deepest condolences and are very saddened by Ruth’s passing. What a terrific lady she was with a heart of gold. We send prayers for you all.
#37 Comment By Ken and Bonnie Braisted On January 4, 2018 @ 10:09 am
Keeping you in our prayers and thoughts at this difficult time.