Ruth Edna Kangas Groth | News, Sports, Jobs
Ruth Edna Kangas Groth, 97, died on December 8, 2022 at Omega House in Houghton, Michigan. He is survived by his children, Emil of Chassell, Michigan, John of Cleveland, Ohio, Rick (Vicki) of Waupaca, Wisconsin, Daniel of Hancock, Michigan, and Gloria (Paulo) of Surrey, British Columbia; grandchildren, John (Jhen), Jennifer (Tom), Alexander (Mary), Christopher (Jasmine), Eric, Nicholas and Rebecca; Sister-in-law, Mildred Kangas; great-grandchildren Ethan, Nolan, Josephine, John, Thomas, Jedrick and Jackson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ruth lived a full life of humble service and was an example to others.
Ruth was born in Hancock, Michigan to Mathias and Edna (nee Pelto) Kangas. He graduated from Hancock High School (1942), Hancock, Michigan; Finland College (1944), Hancock, Michigan; and Michigan State University (B.A. 1946).
After graduating from Suomi College and Michigan State, Ruth became a teacher. He taught in Rochester, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Maynard, Iowa; and Bratislava, Slovakia.
In 1947, Ruth married Reverend Ulrich F. Groth. They lived in Des Moines, Iowa; Dysart, Iowa; Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; and Maynard, Iowa, and reared four sons and one daughter. In retirement they split their time between McAllen, Texas and Chassell, Michigan.
In 1998, after the death of her husband Ulrich and ten years after retiring from teaching, Ruth spent a year in Bratislava, Slovakia, teaching English at a Lutheran high school in connection with ELCA worldwide missions. Throughout her retirement, she also taught English at the McAllen Public Library English Language Program in McAllen, Texas; McAllen’s Salvation Army English Program; and privately in her home to immigrants and spouses of college students in Texas and Michigan for many years.
Ruth strongly believed in the power of education, and in addition to her lifelong work in schools, churches, and as a volunteer English teacher, she was also an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a group of leading women educators who promote vocational education. and personal growth and excellence in education. Ruth always put others before herself and was active in church as a Sunday school teacher, choir member and served in many other ways in each church her husband pastored and in retirement.
Ruth is preceded in death by her parents; siblings Wayne, Ingrid, Matt, Elbert and Andrew; her husband, Ulrich; and a young son, Alexander.
The service will be held in the summer of 2023. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chassell, Michigan, First Lutheran Church in Edinburgh, Texas, or Omega House in Houghton, Michigan.
To view Ruth’s obituary or send condolences to the family, visit memorialchapel.net.