Ruth Johnson

Ruth Johnson was born July 3, 1915 in Beulah, Michigan to Burt and Harriet (Snyder) Hayes. The small towns of upper Michigan offered a retreat from large urban centers, where automobile manufacturing, women’s suffrage, silent films and ragtime music were the order of the day. Further down the coast of Lake Michigan, Ruth also lived for a time in Bear Lake, north of Muskegon, before settling in Holland, Michigan in 1976.

Growing up, Ruth learned the skills of cooking, baking, gardening and housekeeping, in which she took great pride. She loved doing lawn and garden work, all the while keeping her home spotless and her family happy with great meals. Being a wife, mother and eventually a grandmother was a joy to Ruth. Especially later in life, she developed a real fondness for babies, sharing the love she felt for her children and grandchildren.

For a time, Ruth also worked outside the home and, over the years, was employed by the Frankfort Hospital, the Smetzer Company in Benzonia, Michigan and the Four Star Company in Mesick, Michigan. As a hobby, she collected dolls that adorned her neat-as-a-pin home.

Ruth was a kind woman who, though she often kept to herself, was friendly to those around her and enjoyed the fellowship of other church members at Faith Christian Center. With her passing, Ruth leaves a legacy of faith, hope and love to her family and friends.

Ruth Johnson, age 93, of Saugatuck, died Tuesday March 10, 2009 at the Hospice House of Holland. Ruth is survived by daughters, Betty Love of Holland, Yvonne Love of Holland, Barbara (Sam) Phillippe of Douglas, Judy Allen of Holland; 16 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and 14 great great grandchildren; sisters, Mary Ann Willy of Birch Run , Bargene Johnson of Borculo and Arbutus Coyner of TN. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Carl W. Johnson in 1966, a grandson Terry Love in 1986, a granddaughter Diana Seeback in 2008, sisters, Ardith Steffens, Helen Hilgendorf and Velma Johnson, brothers, Floyd, Marvin, Guy, Raymond, Forest, Robert Hayes. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM this evening at the Mulder Chapel of Dykstra Life Story Funeral Home, 188 W. 32nd St. Holland. Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Friday at the Faith Christian Center 1941 Washington Ave. Holland. Memorials may be given to Hospice of Holland. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to sign a guest register or leave a memory for the family.