Ruth "Toots" Leatrice Brown Hamilton was born to Flossie and Burt Brown on October 16, 1922, north and west of Two Buttes, Colorado. Her siblings were Maxine Brown Hutches and Kenneth "Jap" Brown. Ruth departed this life on March 21, at Southeast Colorado Hospital at the age of 88.

Ruth attended grade school in the old grade school at Vilas and graduated from the new Vilas High School in 1941.

Ruth married her high school sweetheart, Walter Hamilton, on June 25, 1941, in Guymon, Oklahoma. Ruth and Walter spent their 59 years of wonderful marriage in the Midway area, alongside the D.C.D. Road, also known as that darn, crooked, dangerous road, later known as Road 51.

Ruth and Walter spent their lives farming and ranching. Ruth drove the grain trucks into Elkhart, unloaded the grain, and by the time she got back to the field, there would be another truck waiting for her. Walter was also a spray pilot and Ruth decided to take flying lessons. That all ended when she was caught in a down draft, so she decided to keep her feet on the ground.

Ruth enjoyed being a homemaker, a good cook always bringing her special deviled eggs to each family gathering, a seamstress making many brown hats for Alice to wear in the fields, gardening, taking care of the apple orchard and making homemade apple cider from their fruits. Ruth was a self taught artist and photographer. Ruth and Walter traveled all over the states making new friends, visiting many historical places. During their travels, Ruth was always taking pictures.

During World War II, Ruth taught at an all-grades school across the road from their home. On May 18, 1977, Ruth received a phone call from her neighbors warning her of a tornado headed directly for their home; their house narrowly escaped its path. That was the first of many tornadoes the farm endured.

Walter passed away in 2000 and Ruth remained on the farm next door to Preston and Linda Hutches for a couple of years before deciding to build her a home in Springfield. She moved into her new home in 2002. Ruth started needing a little extra help with her daily living and developed a very special friendship with Sharon Brown. They enjoyed many good times and laughs. Ruth was appreciative of Sharon. You could always tell when Ruth was thanking you in a special way - she had the wink! She never seemed to have a temper, but ask Kathy and Gail about the time they spilled the fingernail polish remover on the dresser and tried to cover the eaten finish with doily scarves.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband Walter, sister Maxine and her husband Adolph Hutches, brother Kenneth, and two half-sisters, Bea Hendricks and Goldie Clevenger.

Ruth is survived by her nieces, Kathy Maestas of Vilas and Carolyn (Lon) Kerr of Goodland, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Alice Brown, Deanie Hamilton, Idrys (Glen) Hutches all of Vilas, and Beatrice Cogburn of Springfield. There are many great-nieces and great-nephews and a host of friends who also survive. She was a very special lady to all who knew her and she will be missed greatly by her family and friends.