Ruth Bantam

Funeral Services for Ruth Bantam will be conducted from the Presbyterian Church in Orleans, Nebraska on Tuesday, November 7, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. with Mr. Dixon Powers, officiating. Interment will be in the Orleans Cemetery.

Ruth Bantam, 92 years of age, of Grand Island, Nebraska (formerly of Orleans), passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2006 at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Ruth was born September 8, 1914 west of Naponee in Franklin County, Nebraska, the youngest of two children of Frank and Katren (Walker) Rains. Ruth received her primary education at Naponee and graduated from Naponee High School. Ruth then pursued higher education at the Nebraska State Teacher's College at Kearney, Nebraska to receive her teacher's certificate. Ruth then taught at District #32 and District #36 in Harlan County for two years prior to her marriage.

On April 24, 1934 she was united in marriage to Bryan Bantam and to this union five children were born: Janice Karen, Richard Alan, Larry Bryan, Curtis Ray and Lynn Ruth. The family made their home on the farm south of Orleans, where Ruth focused all her efforts on raising her children and assisting Bryan with the farm. Ruth and Bryan celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary in April of 2004. Upon retirement they made their home in Orleans. Ruth and Bryan loved to travel and enjoyed their friendship bonds formed in the "Wheels For Fun" travel group as they wintered in Texas and Arizona for many years. On September 12, 2004 she was preceded in death by her husband, Bryan. Following Bryan's death Ruth resided in Grand Island, Nebraska to be near her daughter, Lynn.

Ruth was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Orleans, Homemaker's 4-H Club leader, member of the Gingham Girls Extension Club, Orleans Civic Club and served on the Orleans Library Board.

She leaves to mourn her passing her two daughters: Janice Boehler of Omaha, Nebraska and Lynn Cronk and her husband, Daniel of Grand Island; two sons: Richard Bantam of LasVegas, Nevada and Larry Bantam and his wife, Kay of Orleans; nine grandchildren: J.J. Boehler and his wife, Cindy, Rex Boehler, Debra Waggoner and her husband, Rich, Kimberly Lueking and her husband, John, Tony Bantam, Scott Bantam, Jaime Miller and her husband, Lance, Daniel Cronk and his wife, Milah Frownfelter and Jacy Hoover; fifteen great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides her husband, Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Curtis in infancy; sister, Grace Reynolds in 1944; step-sister, Myrtle; step-brothers: Walter, Ralph, Fred, Gilbert, Floyd and Percy Rains.

Mrs. Bantam will lie in state at the Mitchell Funeral Home in Orleans on Monday, November 6, 2006 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her memory to the Orleans Library.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell Funeral Home in Orleans is in charge of the arrangements.