Ruth Delores Walden was born in Kingsley, Iowa on October 15, 1925 to Margaret (Pickett) and Fred H Walden, and passed away on September 16, 2012 at the Burke Hospital at the age of 86 years,11 months and 1 day.

Ruth suffered loss early in life after her father died when she was 4 years old. Her mother took care of the family until she remarried Everett Stinton and moved to the Lucas area. Ruth hunted and fished with "Pop" Stinton as she grew up. She attended Lucas High School and graduated from Burke High School after the Lucas School closed. She was homecoming queen and Jr. Steffen was the King. She worked at the Gregory County Court House. She married Howard Benter on October 29, 1947. They lived on the farm for a few years, then moved to a the house where the Cadillac Ranch was located. They then moved to the house currently owned by her granddaughter, Tanya.

Ruth worked for the government in the ASCS office for over 30 years, retiring in 1986. She spent her retirement years traveling with Howard while he did construction work, and babysitting for grand and great-grandkids. They moved to Parkview Manor in 2006. They enjoyed visiting with the many neighbors. In 2009, they moved to Haish Haus Assisted living in Bonesteel. Howard passed in 2009, and Ruth lived there until 2010, when she moved to Silver Threads Assisted Living. Ruth remained there until just before her death.

Ruth leaves to mourn her passing her son Mark and wife Nancy; her daughter Cindy and her husband Rod Juhnke; nine grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; her sisters-in-law, Dorothy Johnson and Darlene Benter; her brother-in-law Jim Benter and his wife Joyce and many nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Jerald and Harold Walden , her sisters Darlene Utesch and Shirley Dobesh; as well as her brothers-in-law Donald Utesch and Ed Dobesh.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke, SD. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6 PM to 7 PM, with a 7 PM rosary, at the Church.