Ruth Winter

Ruth Alma Winter, a resident of Breeze Park Senior Living Center in Weldon Springs, MO, passed away January 7, 2025 at the age of 92. She was the loving wife of John (JD) Winter, devoted mother of Jeff Winter (Patrice) and Scott Winter (Lisa). She was also the loving grandmother of 7 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. She was proceeded in death by her sister, Carol Ann (Grau) Newton. 

Ruth spent her life in her God given vocation of wife, mother, grandmother and service to others. Ruth was a wonderful homemaker, always caring for John, Jeff, and Scott. She also served as Zion Harvester school secretary for 8 years. At Zion she participated in Mary Martha’s, Braille book making, ACTS weekly Bible class, and the quilting club.

Ruth Alma Grau was born on a farm near Harvester, MO. She grew up on the Herbert (father) and Olinda (mother) Grau farm on Upper Bottom Road. She would spend most of her life within a few miles of this beloved location. She attended Zion Lutheran Harvester grade school, graduated as valedictorian from Francis Howell High School, and worked summers at Deaconess Hospital. She then attended comptometer’s school in St. Louis and after graduating, worked for several employers in St. Lous, then Los Angeles, CA before having her sons. 

She abided in her farm roots, and loved gardening her entire adult life. Ruth and John always had a large garden as it was important to Ruth to feed her family with healthy, fresh produce. Ruth’s other passion was sewing and quilting. Her volume of work is impossible to number. She made numerous quilts for family members, and mission quilts. She also loved playing tennis, and regularly participated until she was 85 years old. 

Ruth was baptized and adopted into God’s family on November 13, 1932 at Zion Lutheran Church, Harvester, and was confirmed in her Lutheran faith there on March 13, 1947. She married John on August 31th, 1956. She attended Zion Lutheran Harvester her entire life, except for a 7-year temporary re-location with John to Hawthorne, CA. Ruth reflected Jesus’ love in how she cared, respected and treated people, how she loved and cared for her husband, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her kind spirit, and positive attitude blessed those around her.

Ruth’s confirmation verse is Psalm 27 verse 1: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?