PETERS - Mrs. Ruth Elizabeth, age 82, passed away on Thursday, December 23, 2010, at the Gull Lake Special Care Centre after a courageous and valiant battle with Alzheimer's disease. The eldest daughter born to Sam and Lena Klein on December 25, 1927, Ruth was raised in the Piapot district along with her eight siblings. She attended Last Chance and Lynn Grove schools and graduated from Maple Creek High School with honours in 1947. With a passion for teaching and only two months summer training at Normal School in Moose Jaw, Ruth launched her career in education at Garden Head School. She also taught at Antelope, Sidewood, Verlo and Hazlet schools. Ruth made it a priority to treat each of her students as individuals and focused on their special strengths. In 1974, she became a spare school bus driver and then drove full time from 1975 to 1981. On July 27, 1951, Ruth married Ernest Peters and they resided on the family farm at Verlo where they raised five children. Ruth's interests and achievements were many and varied. She was driven to do her best at everything she did and her passions included poetry, sewing, gardening, cooking and baking. Her grandchildren especially appreciated her skills when it came to her chocolate chip cookies. Life on the farm was very busy but Ruth was still generous with her community service. She was a member of the Verlo Ladies Social Club and the Hazlet Historical Society; served on the Gull Lake Division Board of Education from 1983 to 1988, and the Sand Hills Home Care Association from 1991 to 1994. One special highlight of her community spirit was assisting with the Verlo Cairn Project. After her husband Ernie passed away, Ruth stayed on the farm for one year and then made a new home for herself in Gull Lake in October of 1996. She was active in everything that came along with the town lifestyle. Ruth joined the Rebekah's, Senior's, Senior's Taxi, delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered at the Museum. She enjoyed bingo, cards, Friday evening dances and coffee row. Her life took on a whole new meaning when granddaughter Brenlyn was born and she was able to baby sit. Ruth's health failed rapidly after a fall in July of 2009 and she was no longer able to live on her own. After a month at the Gull Lake Special Care Centre she lived at Autumn House for a short while and then Cabri and Leader Special Care Centres finally acquiring a permanent bed back in Gull Lake in February of 2010. While the advances of Alzheimer's disease deprived her of many things, it never took away her willpower or determination. Ruth was predeceased by her parents Sam and Lena Klein, husband Ernest Peters, granddaughter Lonnette Butts, sister Ruby Agnes Klein, brothers Harry and Lester Klein, nieces Debbie Klein and Marilyn Klein, nephew Ronald Peters and numerous in-laws. She is survived by her children Dwayne (Jane), Karen (Ken), Vicki, Charlene (Gregg) and Lynnette (Lonny); grandchildren Darius (Paula), Dustin, Janelle (Chris), Natasha, Chelsea (Brenden), Chad, Toni (Lonnie), Travis, Ashlee, Breann and Brenlyn; great-grandchildren Connor, Owen, Anika and Madison; brothers John (Doris), Bill (Marlaine); sisters Elsie (Len), Florence and Marie (Dick) as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A major link in our family chain is gone, but we have many special memories to hold on to. Funeral Service was held on Saturday, January 8, 2011, at 2:00 in The Knox United Church in Gull Lake, SK, with Reverend. Bev Diduck and Carola Anderson officiating. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to the Gull Lake Special Care Centre Auxiliary, The Alzheimer Society or the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Parkside Memorial Funeral Home in Swift Current. For further information or to sign the family book of condolence, visit parksidefuneraslhome.com.