Reuben Walth

Funeral services for Reuben E. Walth, 92, of Bismarck, formerly of Hebron, will be 10:00 a. m. CST, Friday, October 14, 2011 at Bismarck Baptist Church, Bismarck, with Pastor Merle Hoots officiating. Burial will be in Baptist Cemetery, Hebron. Visitation for Reuben will be from 5:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. CST, Thursday, October 13, 2011 at Bismarck Baptist Church with a prayer service taking place at 6:00 p. m. CST. Reuben Walth, who will be remembered for his loving kindness, his selfless leadership and his beautiful soul, died Oct. 9. Reuben was an amazing man who lived a long, full life with many wonderful chapters. His story began Feb. 2, 1919?the day he was born on the family farm southwest of Hebron. His parents, Jacob and Rose (Klein) Walth raised five sons and a daughter there. In 1940 Reuben married Violet Flemmer of Beulah and the two began what would become a 63-year romance. Reuben loved Vi with all his heart. Together Reuben and Vi owned and operated the Walth family farm for many years to come. They joyfully welcomed sons Dale and Bruce into the family in 1943 and 1946, respectively. The Walth?s farm was a meeting place for friends and family for nearly four decades. Though Reuben was an incredibly hard worker and had a serious side, he was also a prankster and loved to make people laugh. He taught us how to live and how to laugh through his actions. A lifelong member of the Baptist Church, Reuben had a profound conviction in his faith. His belief in God and the Bible as God?s Word shaped his actions, shaped his thoughts. He was a man we all looked up to; he was a man who influenced those in his company to want to do the right thing. He inherently ruled a room not with his words, but simply with his presence. As a member of the Baptist Church in Hebron, he served on the church board and volunteered as a Sunday school teacher. He also served on the Hebron School Board and the Hebron Creamery Board. Reuben and Vi sold the farm in 1977 and moved to Bismarck where they worked for Jeanette Myhre Elementary School until 1982. Reuben chose a custodial position, he said, because it afforded him the opportunity to meet the most people. He always had a smile for everyone he met and he never forgot a name. In retirement Reuben spent more time fishing and watching baseball. In his early years of watching baseball, Reuben cheered for the Yankees, but when Dale became a Minnesotan, Reuben changed his allegiance to the Minnesota Twins. Reuben and Vi became members of the Bismarck Baptist Church and both were members of the church?s Senior Citizens Committees. Reuben was a volunteer at the Baptist Home for many years. In 2003, Vi passed away and Reuben struggled with the loss of the saint he knew as his wife. By God?s grace Reuben later met an angel who became his dear, dear friend and companion. Reuben and Ruth (Edinger) married Aug. 3, 2005. Together they enjoyed spending time with the Baptist Church community as well with their newly extended families. Reuben is survived by his wife Ruth, his brother Rev. Clarence (Dorene) Walth, Sacramento, Calif. ; sister Roselyn Wolff, Tulsa, Okla. ; sister-in-law Rose Walth, Tacoma, Wash. ; sister- and brother-in-law Ginny and Ivan Flemmer, Mesa, Ariz. ; sons Dale (Betty) Walth and Bruce (Sharon) Walth; grandchildren Shayne (Marnie) Walth, Tony (Tammie) Walth, Collin (Kate) Walth and Jessica (Jeremy) Remily, Bismarck; Shawn Walth, Brooklyn Park, Minn. ; and Melissa (Ben) Fossey, Minnetonka, Minn. ; and great-grandchildren Isaac, Christian, Aliah, Noah, Jonah, Cole, Kennady, Carter, Josie, Rowan and Addison. Through his marriage to Ruth, his memory is also survived by Ruth?s sons Scott Edinger, Bismarck and Mark (Jill) Edinger, Carrington; and daughters Jane (Curt) Ekren, Rugby, and Gayle (Stan) Sjol, Hooper; plus nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Reuben was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Rose (Klein) Walth; and brothers Arthur, Bennie and Roland; Sister-in-law and brother-in-law Irene and Al Ulrich, brother-in-law Manuel Wolff. He will be forever remembered for helping each of us to enjoy all moments of life, especially those we spend with each other.


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Burial Date: October 14, 2011
Funeral Home Glen Ullin, ND

Funeral Service: Friday: Bismarck Baptist Church, Bismarck, ND