Lifelong resident of Valentine, Ruth E. Harms passed away August 3, 2024 at the age of 99. Born December 21, 1924, to Edward and Maisie Johnson in Valentine. Ruthie was the fourth of six children. Ruthie married the love of her life, Leslie Harms, June 30, 1942. To this marriage they added three sons; Tommy Joe, Jerry Dan, and Kevin Clarke (K.C.)
Les and Ruthie raised their family on their ranch south of Valentine and eventually moved to town where she enjoyed her garden, flowers, and her gold fish pond. She also spent a large portion of her days quilting or watching quilting shows.
Together Ruthie and Leslie loved to travel to county court houses and made sure that they took pictures at all of their stops. Another passion of Ruthie’s was the documentation of her Johnson and Harms lineage. She was pretty good with the computer and made it her goal to write down everything that she learned along the way.
Ruthie enjoyed doing projects with all the kids out in the District 5 area. She also did ceramics, knitting,
helped to write the Sandhills Century Book, was a member of the Cowbells, and a lifetime member of the Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include her sons, Tom (Carolyn) Harms, Valentine, Jerry (Sandy) Harms, Valentine, K.C. (Bonnie) Harms, Roca; grandchildren, Thad Harms, Reserve, KS, Brad (Wendy) Harms, Viborg, SD, Cory Harms, Lincoln, and Kyle Harms, Lincoln; great grandchildren Tyler Harms, Omaha, Abby Harms, Falls City, Justin Harms, Ames, IA, and Shane Harms Viborg, SD.
Ruthie was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Maisie Johnson; husband, Leslie Harms; brothers, Bob and Keith Johnson; sisters, Gayle Hanna, Gwyn Jensen, and Jonnye Kreycik.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Valentine, with a light luncheon to follow. The family will bury her ashes, together, after the luncheon.
Memorials will be designated by the family at a later date. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was entrusted with service arrangements.
