Dorothy Ruth Stevens, who preferred the name Ruth, was born to Charles and Pearl Stevens on June 11th, 1922 at West Mineral, Kansas and went to rejoin her husband in heaven on October 27, 2017.
Ruth grew up on a farm in southeast Kansas, in the midst of a large lively family. She learned early in her life how to work hard. She talked about milking twenty cows and separating cream before school and topping kafir corn with a team and wagon in winter. Her early education was in a country school, and she later completed high school in West Mineral, Kansas.
At age 20, she left for San Francisco to live with her sister, Marie. The day she arrived in San Francisco, she met Walter Doner. In her words, "A tall handsome man filled our car and then stuck his head in the back window asking, "How was your train ride, Ruthie!" I informed him my name was Ruth, not Ruthie!" Walt had been coming often to my sister's home to eat and entertain her children. Marie had named him the Fly because he came in every time the door was opened." Despite this frosty start, they were soon seeing the sights of San Francisco together, and found they enjoyed each other's' company. Walter joined the Army Air Corps six months before Pearl Harbor and while stationed in Chico, traveled back and forth to San Francisco to court Ruth. On November 1st, 1942, they were married in San Francisco.
When Walt was reassigned to Kingman, Arizona, he informed Ruth there was no housing there and she needed to stay with Marie in San Francisco. He soon found out he had married a very determined and resolute woman. She refused to stay in San Francisco and accompanied him to Kingman, only to find out that indeed there was no housing. While Walt was stationed on base, she slept on a sofa in a hotel lobby and cleaned up in the public restroom until a janitor took pity and cleared out a closet and found a bed for her. Walt worked as a cook, and Ruth typed work orders for B-17's. They continued to look for housing so they could be together and eventually found what had been a chicken coop. Ruth set to work using her best gifts and turned the coop into a warm comfortable and welcoming home.
While in Kingman and living in the coop they had their first chic, I mean child, Connie Louise born in 1944. After the war ended in 1945, Walt felt a duty to return to the family farm. Ruth was reluctant, but her love for Walt won out and they left the West Coast for Baca County. Together they farmed the Doner homestead and once again, Ruth took a rundown old adobe house without plumbing, electricity or a phone and transformed it into a cozy home. It was here that they welcomed their second child, David Lloyd in 1947.
Ruth's life was more than full. She was an equal partner in farming decisions as she and Walt raised broomcorn, wheat, cattle, and two children. She worked tirelessly cooking for broomcorn "Johnnies", sowing for the family, and gardening.
Farming in Baca County in the early 50's was a rerun of the Dirty Thirties and took a nosedive as dust storms, drought, and poor crops once again plagued farm life. Walt and Ruth wanted one more child but were disappointed until 55. Connie wanted a sister, but Dave yearned for a brother. Ruth using her normal sarcasm, exclaimed she would just bring home one of each, and to everyone's great surprise, including the doctors, that is just what she did. She never tired of telling the story of Steven Oliver and Jean Marie's birth. Their arrival was a highlight of her life.
Although Ruth was at her busiest, raising four children on a farm without plumbing or modern conveniences, her home was always open and welcoming. Walt and she frequently said, "Pull up a chair, there's always room for more." And there were often more. They gained another daughter when Jo Medlin made her home with the Doner's in the late 50's. Through Mom's childrearing years she especially enjoyed entertaining her children's classmates and friends.
Life on the small farm was difficult and they had a hard time making ends meet. In the early sixties Dad took a job as bus driver, and Mom began working at Burson's drugstore and then at the insurance office. Their great team work enabled the family to stay on the farm.
As the kids grew, married, and had children, Ruth began the next great phase of her life. She loved being a Grandma, and eventually a Great-Grandma. She was happiest when she was with children. Ruth was fun-loving and playful, and often just plain silly. She especially enjoyed playful teasing which left her own children looking to their father for the truth. This is the signature trait Ruth passed on to her progeny.
One of the more remarkable things about Ruth's life was her enduring love affair with Walt. Their attraction to each other, their mutual respect and trust lasted throughout their marriage of 49 years. Ruth wrote about how her parents fought and argued and she vowed that she would never fight when she was married. "I think I kept that vow all our married life. Walt didn't know how to fight anyways so I would have always won." Walt died in 1991. This required the most significant adjustment of her life, and she never stopped missing him. She mentioned that when she missed him the most she would still write him a letter. .
Eventually Ruth moved from the farm to Walsh, where she continued to welcome family and friends. She enjoyed activities at the Senior Center, traveling, and the companionship of her dog, Jenny. Though Ruth had many friends, those dearest to her heart included Lois Godfrey and Betty Bryan whose friendship spanned 71 years. In the end, Mom was a resident of Baca County longer than Walt.
Five years ago, health issues necessitated a move to the Assisted Care Facility in Walsh. There she made new friends, and eagerly played bingo and dominos. This fall, she made it her mission to donate her bingo winnings to her thirteen year old great-granddaughter, Liberty.
Ruth's health took a rapid decline in the last few months. As family members surrounded her, and loved her, she made the journey from their arms to the warm and welcoming arms of her Savior.
She was the last member of her large family and is survived by her children, Connie Wallace of Colorado Springs, David and Joyce Doner of Pueblo, Steven and Jan Doner of Walsh, Jean and James Lawson of East Bernstadt, Kentucky, and their families, which include ten grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren and two more on the way, and one great great grandchild.