Ruth Margaret Yontz

Ruth Margaret Yontz, 92, of Tipton, entered into eternal life August 14, 2012, in Tipton surrounded by her family. She was born June 7, 1920, in Linn, Missouri, to John S. and Wilhelmina E. Franken Kuster. Early in life, she went to work at St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Being interested in nursing, she was trained under Sr. Digmond to be an assistant to an RN. On June 29, 1946, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, she married Arthur "Babe" Yontz Jr. who passed away October 1, 2003. To this union, seven children were born. Mrs. Yontz was a published poet, receiving a number of awards. She achieved the Editors choice award for the poem "The Old Country Church" which was published in The Best Poem of 1996, by the national Library of Poetry. This was one of the greatest joys in her life. She loved painting, flower arranging, gardening, dancing and writing short stories. She also enjoyed playing the piano, guitar and singing. She sang in the children's choir at St. George Church in Linn and St. Andrew's Church in Tipton. Most of all, she enjoyed the time spent with her family. She is survived by six children--Frank Arthur Yontz (Dala) of Tipton; Kathy Asahl (Bob) of Jefferson City; Carolyn Oetting (Jim) of Jefferson City; Suzanne Seek (Mike) of Festus; Cynthia Schaffter (Mike) of Tipton; Amy Northway (Tom) of Jefferson City; 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters-Catherine Paschal (Kenny) of Linn; Laurissa Reynolds (Eddie) of Herman; Esther Reynolds of Linn; two brothers-Harold Kuster and Joe Kuster, both of Jefferson City. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one son, John Joseph Yontz and a granddaughter, Sarah M. Northway; one sister, Mary Luebbert and two brothers, Jim and John Kuster. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 17, 2012, at the St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Tipton, with Fr. Fred Elskamp officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband and son at St. Andrew's Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 16, at the Meisenheimer Funeral Home in Tipton. Memorials are suggested to St. Andrew's Altar Society or Salesian Missions.