This is the story of Ruth Louise (Lockwood) Boatman, 90, of Plano, Illinois, who passed away on May 14, 2021.
Her life was so much more than a one paragraph mention of her birth and death! She was an amazing woman; strong, self-denying, loving, a caring wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, and friend and she was loved by so many!
Ruth was born April 8, 1931 in Crystal Lake, Illinois at her grandparents home to Lester Clarence Lockwood and his wife, Milldred Clara Martha Emma (Roewer) Lockwood. Ruth was the 3rd oldest in a family of 13 children. She had 7 brothers; Richard, Ronald, Robert, Jack, William, David and Michael. There also were 5 sisters; Joan, Shirley, Sally, Judy and Karyl. Since Ruth was the oldest girl, she had plenty of experience taking care of her younger siblings and helping her mother with household duties. Maybe it was a combination of these things that made Ruth seem like a strong pioneer woman. She could do everything and keep going. Her children never remember her taking one day to remain in bed sick - NEVER!!! How did she do it?
On July 3, 1948, Ruth married Delos Dean Boatman, from Carlinville, Illinois. They had met at a bowling alley in Crystal Lake. Delos whisked Ruth off to a rustic cabin in the wilds of Iron Mountain, Michigan, where he worked on a road crew making its way through the forests.
Before the end of their first year of marriage they moved back to Crystal Lake where Ruth gave birth to her first child; a baby girl on April 26, 1949, Kristena Lue. Then due to a job opportunity, Ruth and Delos soon made their way to Peoria, Illinois. It was here that Ruth brought two more baby girls into the world; Karylin Sue, May 10, 1950 and Karla Rae, October 4, 1951. In just 3 years Ruth had 3 little fairies to care for. Leaving Peoria, Ruth and Delos moved to a farm in the country, where Ruth raised parakeets and chickens, and cooked for hunters in the area to make extra money for the family.
Delos left his sales job and began his lifelong job with Caterpillar in Peoria. They were able to purchase their first home on Matilda Street in Pekin and it was here that Ruth's baby boy, Delos Dean Jr. was born on September 30, 1957. A lot of celebration went on over the birth of that hoped-for boy!
It wasn't long before Caterpillar built a new manufacturing plant in Aurora, Illinois and Delos was transferred. Another move for Ruth, who took it all in stride. After a short stay in Hinkley, they had a home built in Plano, and Ruth lived in that house the rest of her life - more than 62 years!
It was in Plano that Ruth put down roots and made a cozy, hospitable home for her family and often various relatives who often were living there too while they got on their feet. She never minded, and always welcomed visitors. Ruth became involved in the neighborhood, the community, and the schools.
Although Ruth had her hands full raising 4 kids, keeping the yard and the house up, gardening, canning, freezing, baking (store-bought anything was rare in the Boatman household); Ruth always found ways to make extra money. She upholstered furniture like a pro, and she babysat many neighborhood children. Ruth had a nurturing character and caring for children was natural for her. She often talked about these kids and what they were doing long after they grew up. She cared.
Ruth was a member of the American Legion Women's Auxillary, the Sandwich Hospital Auxillary, the Moose, served as Room Mother, High School Band volunteer, Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, and Sunday school teacher. After her children were grown, Ruth worked at Plano Molding.
Ruth loved singing and dancing. Her children grew up knowing practically every song from the 40's until present. She sang about every situation. She loved going to dances and continued doing so even into her 80's.
Ruth also loved to travel and see "what she could see". This passion for travel was passed on to her kids too. She managed to visit many places inside the USA, but also internationally, such as; Germany, Brussels, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Japan, Mexico, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada and the Caribbean islands.
Ruth was a member of Cross Lutheran Church on Rt. 47 in Yorkville for over 60 years. She always took her children to Sunday School and Church. Ruth taught them to love God, all about Jesus and to be patriotic. Three of her children were married at Cross. In her later years, Ruth liked attending the special senior services held there; and then the special visits by the Pastor, who would come to Ruth's home to visit, and give her communion.
Ruth became a widow in December of 1976, when Delos suddenly passed away.
Ruth's four children married; Delos Dean Jr. (Deena Smith)Boatman, Kristena (Samuel) Wyant, Karylin (Randy) McKirgan, Karla (Rick) Casner; and they blessed her with 12 grandchildren; Ruth (Brent)Maloy, Samuel (Cori) Wyant, Daniel (Carolyn) Wyant, Sean Casner, Brandie (Corey) Britt, Kindra (Karl) Pottinger, Kelli (Chris) Wilson, Molly McKirgan, Carrie (Ricky) Hart, Joshua (Cayy) Boatman, Jessica (Bob) Portz, Kayla (Brandon) Miller.
Soon Ruth also had 43 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren!
Ruth was also a beloved Aunt to many, many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Delos Boatman; 6 of her brothers; Richard, Ronald, Robert, William, David and Michael; 4 of her sisters; Joan, Shirley, Sally and Judy; her son-in-law, Samuel Wyant and also her granddaughter, Molly Kristine McKirgan.
Our hearts are broken, and it is said that a heart that's been broke is a heart that's been loved. And this is so true. We will miss her but knowing that we will see her again in heaven is such a comfort.
"Halleluia, she was an angel in the shape of our Mom!, - and when God took her back, He said Halleluia! you're Home!"
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 5, 2021 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Plano, IL with Pastor Matt Conrad officiating. Burial will be held at a later date at Cross Lutheran Cemetery in Yorkville, IL. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Plano, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Michael J. Fox Parkinson Foundation https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate , or Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Yorkville, IL. For more information, or to sign the online guest book, please go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Her life was so much more than a one paragraph mention of her birth and death! She was an amazing woman; strong, self-denying, loving, a caring wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, and friend and she was loved by so many!
Ruth was born April 8, 1931 in Crystal Lake, Illinois at her grandparents home to Lester Clarence Lockwood and his wife, Milldred Clara Martha Emma (Roewer) Lockwood. Ruth was the 3rd oldest in a family of 13 children. She had 7 brothers; Richard, Ronald, Robert, Jack, William, David and Michael. There also were 5 sisters; Joan, Shirley, Sally, Judy and Karyl. Since Ruth was the oldest girl, she had plenty of experience taking care of her younger siblings and helping her mother with household duties. Maybe it was a combination of these things that made Ruth seem like a strong pioneer woman. She could do everything and keep going. Her children never remember her taking one day to remain in bed sick - NEVER!!! How did she do it?
On July 3, 1948, Ruth married Delos Dean Boatman, from Carlinville, Illinois. They had met at a bowling alley in Crystal Lake. Delos whisked Ruth off to a rustic cabin in the wilds of Iron Mountain, Michigan, where he worked on a road crew making its way through the forests.
Before the end of their first year of marriage they moved back to Crystal Lake where Ruth gave birth to her first child; a baby girl on April 26, 1949, Kristena Lue. Then due to a job opportunity, Ruth and Delos soon made their way to Peoria, Illinois. It was here that Ruth brought two more baby girls into the world; Karylin Sue, May 10, 1950 and Karla Rae, October 4, 1951. In just 3 years Ruth had 3 little fairies to care for. Leaving Peoria, Ruth and Delos moved to a farm in the country, where Ruth raised parakeets and chickens, and cooked for hunters in the area to make extra money for the family.
Delos left his sales job and began his lifelong job with Caterpillar in Peoria. They were able to purchase their first home on Matilda Street in Pekin and it was here that Ruth's baby boy, Delos Dean Jr. was born on September 30, 1957. A lot of celebration went on over the birth of that hoped-for boy!
It wasn't long before Caterpillar built a new manufacturing plant in Aurora, Illinois and Delos was transferred. Another move for Ruth, who took it all in stride. After a short stay in Hinkley, they had a home built in Plano, and Ruth lived in that house the rest of her life - more than 62 years!
It was in Plano that Ruth put down roots and made a cozy, hospitable home for her family and often various relatives who often were living there too while they got on their feet. She never minded, and always welcomed visitors. Ruth became involved in the neighborhood, the community, and the schools.
Although Ruth had her hands full raising 4 kids, keeping the yard and the house up, gardening, canning, freezing, baking (store-bought anything was rare in the Boatman household); Ruth always found ways to make extra money. She upholstered furniture like a pro, and she babysat many neighborhood children. Ruth had a nurturing character and caring for children was natural for her. She often talked about these kids and what they were doing long after they grew up. She cared.
Ruth was a member of the American Legion Women's Auxillary, the Sandwich Hospital Auxillary, the Moose, served as Room Mother, High School Band volunteer, Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, and Sunday school teacher. After her children were grown, Ruth worked at Plano Molding.
Ruth loved singing and dancing. Her children grew up knowing practically every song from the 40's until present. She sang about every situation. She loved going to dances and continued doing so even into her 80's.
Ruth also loved to travel and see "what she could see". This passion for travel was passed on to her kids too. She managed to visit many places inside the USA, but also internationally, such as; Germany, Brussels, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Japan, Mexico, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada and the Caribbean islands.
Ruth was a member of Cross Lutheran Church on Rt. 47 in Yorkville for over 60 years. She always took her children to Sunday School and Church. Ruth taught them to love God, all about Jesus and to be patriotic. Three of her children were married at Cross. In her later years, Ruth liked attending the special senior services held there; and then the special visits by the Pastor, who would come to Ruth's home to visit, and give her communion.
Ruth became a widow in December of 1976, when Delos suddenly passed away.
Ruth's four children married; Delos Dean Jr. (Deena Smith)Boatman, Kristena (Samuel) Wyant, Karylin (Randy) McKirgan, Karla (Rick) Casner; and they blessed her with 12 grandchildren; Ruth (Brent)Maloy, Samuel (Cori) Wyant, Daniel (Carolyn) Wyant, Sean Casner, Brandie (Corey) Britt, Kindra (Karl) Pottinger, Kelli (Chris) Wilson, Molly McKirgan, Carrie (Ricky) Hart, Joshua (Cayy) Boatman, Jessica (Bob) Portz, Kayla (Brandon) Miller.
Soon Ruth also had 43 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren!
Ruth was also a beloved Aunt to many, many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Delos Boatman; 6 of her brothers; Richard, Ronald, Robert, William, David and Michael; 4 of her sisters; Joan, Shirley, Sally and Judy; her son-in-law, Samuel Wyant and also her granddaughter, Molly Kristine McKirgan.
Our hearts are broken, and it is said that a heart that's been broke is a heart that's been loved. And this is so true. We will miss her but knowing that we will see her again in heaven is such a comfort.
"Halleluia, she was an angel in the shape of our Mom!, - and when God took her back, He said Halleluia! you're Home!"
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 5, 2021 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Plano, IL with Pastor Matt Conrad officiating. Burial will be held at a later date at Cross Lutheran Cemetery in Yorkville, IL. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Plano, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Michael J. Fox Parkinson Foundation https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate , or Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Yorkville, IL. For more information, or to sign the online guest book, please go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
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