Ruth Elinor DeGroot

Ruth Elinor DeGroot, 91, of Ottawa, Kansas, died Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at Wellsville Health & Rehabilitation, Wellsville, Kansas.

Funeral services will be 10am, Thursday, June 12, 2025, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa.

Ruth was born Thursday, June 15, 1933, in McGregor, Iowa, the daughter of Gustov and Hermine (Nordemann) Schwietert.

She lived eighteen years in McGregor, Texas, four years in Cedar Falls, Iowa, twelve years in Des Moines, Iowa, twenty-five years in Overland Park, Kansas and thirty years in Ottawa, Kansas.

She graduated from McGregor High School in 1951and the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Business Education in December 1954.

Ruth was united in marriage with Jay DeGroot June 23, 1956, in Parkersburg, Iowa. He preceded her in death November 30, 2020.

She was also preceded in death by her son, John DeGroot on February 16, 2021.

Survivors include her daughter, Shirley DeGroot and her husband, Richard McCarthy of Moody, Texas.

Ruth worked from 1955 until retiring in 1995 in business education, teaching in multiple high schools and business colleges.

She was a member of Knox Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, Kansas and she loved to travel, read, work puzzles, and watch Chiefs football and KU basketball.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Knox Presbyterian Church c/o Dengel &Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory St., Ottawa, KS 66067.

To share your memories of Ruth or to send a special condolence message to her family, please visit the guestbook below.