Ruth Ann Beardsley, 100 years young, was born in Woodward, Iowa, on July 17, 1926, to Winfred and Rose Sigsbee. Ruth attended high school in Algona, Iowa, and graduated from Immanuel Hospital School of Nursing in Omaha, Nebraska, on August 14, 1947, as part of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. After graduation, Ruth worked for a year at the Veterans Hospital, which paid for her three years of training. This was the beginning of her career doing what she did best: caring for others.

Ruth remained friends over her lifetime with many of her nursing school classmates, one of whom is also 100 years young. Throughout her career, Ruth worked at many nursing homes in Lincoln, and ended her career working in home health care. She was hard working and expected the same dedication from the people who worked alongside her.

Ruth married William (Earl) Beardsley, the love of her life, on August 14, 1948. They had been married for 67 years at the time of Earl’s passing, and she took care of him at the end of his life with her nurse’s cap on the entire time. They had a good life together, were a great team, and were deeply devoted to each other. Their first two children, Jane Ann and Thomas Earl, were born back to back, and ten years later came Julie Kay.

Together, Ruth and Earl enjoyed many hobbies that kept them active well into their retirement years, including fishing, ballroom dancing, bowling, playing bridge, and watching baseball. They cherished time spent helping with their grandchildren and teaching them their favorite hobbies. They made frequent trips to Branson with friends and family to listen to the music they loved, traveled to many other parts of the country to visit their daughter, and made several trips to Hawaii to visit family.

After Earl’s passing in 2015, Ruth was able to stay in her home, where she stayed busy working in her yard, something she took great pride in maintaining. Ruth remained a dedicated Royals fan until the end of her life, and watching their games on TV was always something she looked forward to. On her 90th birthday, she attended a game in Kansas City, and for her 95th birthday, she was surprised with a special video message from some of her favorite players.

Ruth blessed many with her kind and caring heart, always showing empathy even in her last days. She had so many funny sayings that her family will carry on forever. She was a favorite aunt to many nieces and nephews, who continued to stay in touch with her throughout her entire life.

Ruth is survived by her two daughters, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; her son, Thomas; and a son-in-law.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, August 14th, at 1:00 PM at Wyuka Cemetery, where family and friends will gather to lovingly reflect on a life so dearly cherished.