Ruth Huyser, 101, of Pella, passed away Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 1, at Garden Chapel Funeral Home, Pella. Private family interment will be at Sully Cemetery at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 2, followed by Celebration of Life at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 2, at Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Pella. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Luke Society or Crossroads Prison Ministries.
Ruth was born July 10, 1924, to Gertie (Terlouw) and Peter Keuning on a farm near Otley. She was the youngest of eight children. Ruth grew up during the Great Depression, but her family was quite sufficient on their own, as they grew their own fruits and vegetables and had their own milk, eggs, and meat. Her mother and older sisters made all of the family’s clothes. Ruth attended Pella Christian Grade School and was in the first graduating class of Pella Christian High School. After graduation from Calvin College, Ruth taught for four years at Southwest Christian School in Grand Rapids.
Ruth married Jim Huyser on June 24, 1949. To this union, four children were born: Joel, Daniel, Mary, and Rebecca. Jim died of a heart attack in September 1970 while managing Sully Cooperative Exchange. After Jim’s death, Ruth taught remedial reading and kindergarten at Sully Christian School until her retirement in 1989. After retirement, she moved to Pella.
Ruth volunteered for 18 months at Mississippi Christian Family Services in Rolling Fork, MS, where she tutored mentally- and physically-challenged adults. In Pella, she volunteered for Hospice, Pella Clothing Bank, Work of Our Hands, church library, Coffee Break, Care Shepherd Ministry, and Crossroads Prison Ministries. Just prior to her death, Ruth was still attending morning services at Calvary CRC and was an active member of the Mission Circle. She also enjoyed activities with the residents of Grandview Apartments.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings: John (Janet) Keuning, Bertha Keuning, Jennie (Willis) Vander Kooi, Margaret (Nick) De Ronde, Magdalene (Marinus) Aalbers, Anna (Cornie) Van Zee, and Johanna (Raymond) Graves; and great-granddaughter Sofia Quintanilla. She was also preceded in death by her in-laws: Ed and Elizabeth Memmelaar, Bill and Alvina Huyser, and Frank Huyser. She is survived by Wilma Huyser and Jerry and Dorothy Huyser.
She is also survived by her children Joel (Jeannie) Huyser of South Korea, Dan (Mary) Huyser of Fort Defiance, AZ, Mary (Gerald) Vander Hoek of Ortonville, MI, and Rebecca (Glen) Wieldraayer of Chattanooga, TN; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
