Ruth A. Spilinek

Ruth Adelle (Miller) Spilinek, 91, of St. Paul, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Revs. Rayappa Konka and Ray Kosmicki will officiate. Burial will be in the Elba Cemetery in Elba. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of the arrangements. Ruth was born on May 28, 1924, on the family farm in Howard County, Nebraska, the daughter of Charles T. and Lora (Smith) Miller. She is survived by nine daughters and eight sons-in-law, Nancy and Bob Wood of Greeley, Linda Wilson and her special friend, Bobby Dugan of Grand Island, Judy and Mark Dugan of Elba, Christie and Ned Vlach of Milford, Laura and Ed Methe of Kearney, Marilyn and Todd Beck of Wolbach, Jeanine and Mark Soneson of Milford, Kathleen and David Kuszak of Elba, and Monica and Arend Wolzen of Hickman; and one sister, Mary Anne Jarecki of Tyler, Texas. She also leaves to cherish her memory 23 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Catherine Miller of Beatrice, Alma Miller of Medford, Oregon and Roberta Spilinek of McCook; brother-in-law, Dale and Sally Spilinek of Hastings; and step-sister-in-law, Fern Nielsen of Grand Island. Ruth attended St. Libory District 76 through eighth grade and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1941, on her 17th birthday. She taught school for one year at Paplin, one year at District 8 between Midway and Elba and two years at St. Libory District 76 and she took off campus courses to renew her teaching certificate. She later worked as a typesetter and proofreader at the Phonograph Herald newspaper in St. Paul. On January 6, 1948, she married Ralph A. Spilinek at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. They had met at a dance and continued to enjoy dancing throughout their marriage. The couple first made their home on various farms in the Elba and Farwell areas, finally settling just outside of Elba in the beautiful North Loup Valley on their own farm. Ruth worked alongside Ralph in all their farming and business ventures. They worked diligently and dedicated their lives to their family business, Spilinek Fertilizer Service, and later Spilinek Irrigation, Inc. Ruth did the bookkeeping for their farm and business which included the sale of Zimmatic center pivots and Buffalo Farm Equipment. Ruth also did books for the Elba Public School for ten years and education was a priority for both her and Ralph. After selling their business, they purchased a home in St. Paul, where they resided until Ralph’s passing on July 18, 2008. Ruth then moved into Matelyn Retirement Community where she continued to live until March of this year, finally settling into Brookefield Park. Ruth many times voiced her feeling that she didn't do enough for her family, but her family knows that she was an angel on earth that quietly encouraged and inspired all of us. She and Ralph faithfully followed their children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's sporting, musical and academic events. She also enjoyed watching and listening to the Cornhuskers and the St. Louis Cardinals. She loved playing cards, bingo and the lottery. To everyone's amazement she continued bowling in a league until earlier this year. She had the kindest heart and always thought of others first. She was a very loving and giving person, who will be greatly missed. Her patience and understanding will be remembered by everyone that knew her. Ruth was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Elba and it's Council of Catholic Women. She was also a member of the Elba Senior Citizens and the Elba Community Club. In addition to her husband, Ralph, she was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Grace Warrell, Jane Fowler, Joyce Weber and infant baby sister; and brothers, William, George and Raymond Miller. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Elba Community Foundation, Elba Fire and Rescue, Elba Cemetery Association or the family's choice.