Ruth Aileen Stinton was born May 22, 1923 at Niobrara, Nebraska to George and Sophie (Arneson) Brevik and she died January 21, 2006 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, South Dakota at the age of 82 years, 7 months and 29 days.

A life-long teacher, Ruth started her education in a rural school near Niobrara. The family moved to a farm north of Herrick, South Dakota in 1931. She attended Carroll Normal School #30, graduated from Herrick High School in 1940, and then went on to attend Southern State Normal College in Springfield, South Dakota. After receiving her degree, she went on to teach elementary school in varying capacities until 2004.

Ruth married Wesley E. Stinton on April 29, 1945. Two children were born to this union, daughter Judy and son Bradley.

Ruth was a long-time member of the Lucas Baptist Church and the Mary and Martha Society. She taught Bible School for many years, and led Sunday School classes until her death. Her strong faith was the cornerstone of her life, and her work and devotion through the church were positive examples to all of those who knew her.

Ruth loved her family and friends, and she was a constant and consistent source of inspiration to them. Her energy was boundless, and she would literally do anything to help those around her. Her life was an honest reflection of the message provided to us in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, she loved above all else.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters: Phyllis and Audrey; her brother, James; two brothers-in-law: Phil and Harold Pense; and two nephews: Daniel Pense and Michael Rolf.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Wesley of Burke, SD; her daughter, Judy and husband Jim Vaughn of Golden, CO; her son, Bradley and wife Julie (Kirkland) Stinton of Cosmopolis, WA; granddaughter Jennifer and husband Kody Schonebaum of Denver, CO; grandsons: Joshua Stinton of New South Wales, Australia; Brian Kirkland of Colorado Springs, CO; and Ian and Maximillian Stinton of Cosmopolis, WA; great-grandchildren Skyler and Morgan Schonebaum of Denver, CO; her sister, Adelene Pense of Burke, SD; and many nieces, nephews and their families.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at 10:00 AM at the Civic Center in Burke. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 8 PM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke. There will be a prayer service on Tuesday at 7:00 PM at the funeral home.