Ruth Lucille Ferguson, 97, of Morrill, NE passed away on Thursday August 1, 2024, at Heritage Estates in Gering. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 AM on Friday, August 9, 2024, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Gering with Father Michael McDonald as Celebrant. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Morrill. Visitation will be held from 4-6 PM on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff with a Rosary being recited at 6 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Friends of the Morrill Library or to Christ the King Catholic Church, Gering. Online condolences may be made by viewing Ruth’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
Ruth was born July 26, 1927, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to John and Anna Hanlon. They moved to the Nebraska Panhandle in 1930 and she attended Sunflower school and graduated from Morrill High School in 1945. Ruth married Bill Ferguson on July 3, 1948. They were married for 63 years before Bill’s passing in 2010. Together they raised seven children who adored her and respected the sacrifices that were made to create a loving home. They were loyal members of St. Ann’s Catholic Church where they instilled values of a strong Catholic faith. She was a loving wife, a great mother, proud grandmother and doting great grandmother. You couldn’t ask for a better woman.
Ruth was a wonderful homemaker and mother. Later, Ruth and Bill owned and operated 2B’s Drive Inn in Mitchell for 22 years. She was an efficient manager, and she enjoyed the normal lunch rush. But her heart was at home, and she enjoyed the off-season with her children.
Ruth was an avid reader, often reading several books at the same time. She enjoyed hosting friends and family, and she was a wonderful cook.
The family would like to send a warm thank you to the staff at Heritage Estates who took exceptional care of our mother for the last nine years.
She is survived by her children Chris Morehead (Clark Burden) of Gering, NE. John (Kris) Ferguson of York, NE, Mary (Jim) Janky of Grand Island, NE, Keith (Peggy) Ferguson of Gering, NE, Tom (Kim) Ferguson of Scottsbluff, NE, Connie (Tod) Austin of Morrill, NE, Greg (Jody) Ferguson of Gering, NE; her sisters Florence Gifford and Donna Powles. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bill Ferguson, parents John and Anna Hanlon, in-laws Paul and Freda Ferguson and sisters Agnes Barrett, Margaret Wahl, Wilma Luttrull, and Marlene Hastert.