Ruth Rosencranz

** Click on Web Link above to view Video Tribute ** Ruth M. Rosencranz, age 66 of Spearfish, died Friday May 18th, 2012 at the Belle Fourche Healthcare Center. Services will be held 2pm Wednesday May 30th, 2012 at Pine Slope Cemetery, with Pastor Susan Fox officiating. Following the service, a time of fellowship will be held at the Bowman Memorial Hall in Hermann Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Funeral arrangements are with Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Ruth M. Bickerdyke was born September 22, 1945 in Belle Fourche, SD. She was the daughter of Theodore and Louise (Teigen) Bickerdyke. Ruth was raised on the family ranch near Capitol Montana, where she also attended country school. In 1962 she graduated from the Belle Fourche High School. On November 24, 1962, Ruth was united in marriage to William A. Rosencranz in Belle Fourche. To this union five children were born: Susan, Mary, Tim, Todd, and Ted. Following their marriage, Ruth and Bill lived in Carter County Montana and later they moved to Sundance WY. In 1968 they moved to the Bickerdyke ranch near Capitol MT, where they ranched for several years. In 1975 they moved to Spearfish, and in 1989 they moved back to the ranch where they lived until 2008, when they returned to Spearfish. Ruth was a 1977 graduate of Black Hills State University. In 1987 she received her Master’s Degree in Education from Black Hills State University, and in 1988 she received her Master’s Degree in Education from Lesley College Graduate School, located in Cambridge, MA. Ruth was a teacher for most of her life, whether in a classroom or not. From 1978 to 1989 she taught in the Crook County WY School District. For two years, she taught at the Sky Ranch for Boys, Sky Ranch, SD. From 1991 to 1997, she taught school in the Harding County School District in Painter, Camp Crook and Buffalo SD. Ruth also was a substitute teacher for many years at schools located in Sturgis, Belle Fourche, Spearfish, and Harding County. She was also a lifetime member of the Little Missouri Lutheran Church, and a member of the Prairie Points Quilt Guild.Ruth was a member of the SD Education Association, Harding County Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma Teacher Society, Diligent Doers Extension Club in Carter County MT, and she served on the Butte/Lawrence County Fair Board from 1984 to 1989, and was a 4H leader.    Ruth will be remembered for having a great heart and a selfless lifestyle. She loved people and would do most anything to help someone. She was a strong supporter of education and she believed in it. She had a great smile and she loved music. She played piano by ear, enjoyed quilting, and baking cakes for many people. She was a teacher of life to her family and anyone she got to know. Ruth is survived by her husband, Bill of Spearfish; daughters, Susan (Daniel) Proefrock of Belle Fourche, Mary (Tom) Riley of Belle Fourche; sons, Tim (Jessica) Rosencranz of Whitewood, Todd Rosencranz of Fruitdale, Ted (Stephanie) Rosencranz of Beulah WY; sister, Theo (Bruce) Yanzick of Absarokee, MT; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Louise Bickerdyke; brother, Paul Bickerdyke. Date of Birth September 22, 1945 Belle Fourche, South Dakota Date of Death May 18, 2012 Belle Fourche, South Dakota Service 2:00 P.M. – Wednesday – May 30, 2012 Pine Slope Cemetery Belle Fourche, South DakotaOfficiant Pastor Susan Fox Special Music Josh Sands “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” “How Great Thou Art”, “The Old Rugged Cross” Following the service, everyone is invited to the Bowman Memorial Hall in Hermann Park for a time of fellowship and coffee.  Butch Samuelson will provide special music.