Ruth Louise Slama, age 96 of Salina and formerly of Waterville, passed away Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Brookdale Salina Fairdale Assisted Living in Salina.
She was born on April 25, 1927, in Morrowville, the daughter of Glen and Helen (Ebeling) Hanshaw. She worked on her parents’ farm growing up, working teams of horses. She graduated from Morrowville High School in 1945. Following graduation, she went to Kansas State University to be a country schoolteacher. She taught her siblings at various schools, including Enesdale.
She married Lewis Slama on August 8, 1950, in Greenleaf. He preceded her in death in 1981. On June 5, 2016, she married her longtime companion, Everett Roepke in Waterville. He preceded her in death on October 19, 2017.
Ruth worked at Kenwood Sewing Factory in Fairbury, Nebraska and later at MC Industries in Belleville. After she moved to Waterville, she worked at the Blue Rapids Nursing Home in the laundry room. She also wallpapered and painted as a secondary job for many years.
She was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Washington and liked gardening and canning while raising her family. She enjoyed going to dances with Lewis and was a big K-State fan, watching them play football and basketball on TV. Ruth was a country girl and was at her happiest being outdoors, fishing on the river as a family. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family.
She is survived by three children, Norman (Barbara) Slama of Waterville, Linda Kasper of Salina, and Nancy (Todd) McElderry of Culver; one brother, Carl (Joan) Hanshaw of Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Crystal Goss (Victor), Tim Slama (Shelly), Misty Harlan (Dan), Jennifer Godfrey (Travis), Amber Pfeifer (Tyler), and Josh Anderson (Abbi), and 17 great grandchildren.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents and four siblings, Betty Hansen, Dorothy Lohnes, Jim Hanshaw and an infant sister.
A viewing is planned from noon to 8:00 pm Monday, March 25, 2024, with visitation being between 5:00 and 7:00 pm at the Christie-Anderes Funeral Home in Waterville.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at the Christie-Anderes Funeral Home with Rod Christie officiating. Burial will be in the St. Paul Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Blue Valley Senior Living and may be sent in care of the Christie-Anderes Funeral Home at PO Box 61, Waterville, Kansas 66548.
