Mrs. Ruth M. Wells Smith, the second of four daughters born of Wilma and Henry Hansen, died peacefully at the age of 99 on May 17, 2017 in Plano, TX. All of her sisters, Eleanor, Margie, and Betty, preceded her in death.
Ruth Marie Hansen was born in Cresco, Iowa, on February 1, 1918. Her family moved to Waterloo and eventually to Iowa Falls, where she graduated from high school. She spent two years at a commercial college in Des Moines, and lived at the YWCA while studying accounting and developing secretarial skills. In Iowa Falls, she worked at a bank in receivership, but at the age of 21 decided to seek her fortune in California.
She considered herself extremely fortunate to have enjoyed the loving and stimulating companionship of exceptional individuals in each of her three marriages. Her first husband was Lowell Leeper, with whom she had a son, Dennis. Her second husband was Max Wells, with whom she had three children, Suzanne, Phyllis, and Steven. He died in 1976. Her third husband was Lloyd Smith with whom she enjoyed a 20-year marriage in the Palm Springs area of California. They were in their 90’s when she became a widow once again. Since Lloyd’s death, in 2009, she has resided in Plano, Texas.
Her primary residences included Chicago, IL, Norfolk, VA, San Diego, CA, and Aurora, CO. After Max’s retirement from the Navy, she returned to full time employment with the Aurora Public Schools, in Colorado. She served as secretary in a junior high school, executive secretary to the superintendent of schools, and finally, as manager of the word processing center. She enjoyed the good fortune of being able to manage her own affairs with effectiveness and independence throughout her lifetime. She was a lover of beautiful plants and flowers and traveled extensively. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining with the pleasure of wonderful friends who knew how to enjoy a good time. She always had time for a round of golf or a hand of bridge.
She relished her role as family confidant and, in later years, often reminded her children of how blessed she felt to have been their mother. She was appreciated for discharging that function with affection, endurance, willingness to learn, and compassion. Her children are grateful for her ability to confront her misgivings, to soften her stance and share her inner dialogue when it mattered. In all things, she was a competitor’s competitor. Stories of her leaving the bridge table with the winnings and golfing with a hole-in-one under her belt will long survive her. She enjoyed a good joke while maintaining charm, grace, and dignity. She will be greatly missed.
Ruth is survived by all her children and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
A memorial celebration of her life will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association, the M.D. Anderson.org Neurodegeneration Consortium, or a charity of your choice.