Ruth E Black

Ruth Elaine Black, 90 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2015 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege.  Ruth was born September 21, 1924 at Holdrege, the second of five children born to Paul H. and Leila I. (Street) Winquest.  Ruth received her primary and secondary education in Holdrege and graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1942.  She then pursued higher education to follow her passion of a nursing career at the Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings, Nebraska.  Ruth graduated from Mary Lanning with her Registered Nursing degree in 1945.  It was during this time that she met Wilbur Black of Lamont, Oklahoma.  Blackie was attached to the Army Air Corp and stationed at the Air Base at Harvard, Nebraska.  They were united in marriage on April 2, 1944 in Holdrege and to this union four children were born:  twins:  Dale and Donn, and then David and Denise.

Ruth began her nursing career in Hastings, Nebraska until the family settled in Holdrege.  Ruth was employed by the Brewster Hospital in Holdrege for 25 years as the surgery supervisor.  During this time, Ruth became the first flying nurse, flying with Doctor Frank Brewster to different hospitals in the region.  After her nursing career she then joined the family business as the office manager at Black Motor until her retirement.

Ruth enjoyed traveling and took several trips to places including:  Europe, Alaska, Israel, and Panama to name a few.  She loved reading, crocheting, listening to her music and spending time with her family and friends.

Ruth became a Christian at a very early age and was a devoted member of the Trinity Evangelical Free Church.  She read her Bible daily and was a member of many Bible study and women's groups, she also taught Sunday school classes, and participated in mission trips to help others.

Besides her parents; Ruth was preceded in death by two sisters:  Fern DeLeisi and her husband, Tony, and Alice Nelson and her husband, Harold; two brothers:  Leslie Winquest and Raymond Winquest; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law:  Clarence and Alice Black.

She leaves to celebrate her life; her husband of 71 years, Wilbur "Blackie" Black of Holdrege; three sons:  Dale Black and his wife, Donna of Grand Island, Nebraska, Donn Black and his wife, Linda, and Dave Black and his wife, Linda all of Holdrege; one daughter, Denise Panter and her husband, Joel of Holdrege; nine grandchildren:  Joe Black and his wife, Amy, Sarah DeWald and her husband, Nate, Josh Black and his wife, Meghan, Michelle Black, Dustin Black and his wife, Mimi, Katie Nottingham and her husband, Tim, and Aaron Svoboda, Adam Svoboda and his friend, Jenae Sandell, and Zach Svoboda; nine great-grandchildren:  Lily, Henry, Caleb, Leah, Isaac, Pearl, Olive, Fynn, and Rowan; sisters-in-law:  Janet Winquest of Boulder, Colorado and Lois Winquest of York, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 from the 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Ruth's honor and kindly suggested to the White Cross at Trinity Evangelical Free Church or The Gideon's International.

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

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.