November 19, 1941 – Saturday, September 12, 2015

Service Information
St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church – Buffalo, MN
Friday, September 18, 2015
10:30 a.m.

Visitation Information
St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church – Buffalo, MN
Thursday, September 17, 2015
4-8 p.m., prayers @ 7 pm

Ruth was born on November 19, 1941 in Buffalo, Minnesota. Born of German descent to her father, Otto and Ida Franke (nee Kehn), who were a farmer and farmer’s wife. She grew up with five brothers and sisters, Sandra, Paul, Harry, Marianne and Annette. Ruth was the fifth of the six children.

Sundays were special growing up. Many relatives would come to the farm for Ida’s delicious chicken and apple pie. Ruth and her family first moved to the farm when she was five. When they moved there a collie-like dog named Shep lived there, however, Shep went to live at the neighbor’s farm. When Ruth was young, she really enjoyed reading, which became her favorite subject in school. She graduated from Buffalo High School in 1959.

Ruth Franke and James Peavey were married on September 5, 1964 at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN. Like her father, James was a farmer and Ruth enjoyed being a farmer’s wife and loved the peacefulness that came with it. It was a great place for the two of them to raise their three sons, John (Marie), Brian (Colleen), and Dennis Peavey. They were also blessed with four grandchildren, Alex, Claire, Greta and Seth. Ruth really enjoyed cooking for the boys when they were growing up, they liked her cooking and ate a lot! Some of Ruth’s great moments in life were her wedding, the births of each son, each son graduating from high school, and paying off the farm. She is proud of raising three fine sons and also of getting her driver’s license when she was 50.

Working on the farm they could not get away for vacations; but when Ruth and James retired, they were able to go to California, Michigan, Branson, MO and Mount Rushmore.

Ruth was a faithful member of St. John’s German Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN and two of her favorite scripture passages are Psalm 23 and John 3:16. The most influential people in Ruth’s life have been her parents, who raised and cared for her; as well as her husband, Jim, who has always been there for her too.

Preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Ida.

Survived by her husband, James Peavey; sons, John (Marie) Peavey, Brian (Colleen) Peavey, Dennis Peavey; four grandchildren, Alex, Claire, Greta, Seth; and sisters Marianne Greener and Annette (Richard) Jenson.

“Some lessons that I’ve learned that I want to pass on to others are to enjoy your life as you go along. Enjoy the great things in each stage of life. Don’t let the small things bother you. I would like to be known as an easygoing person who doesn’t sweat the small stuff”. ~Ruth Peavey

Memorials preferred to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN.