Ruth Marie Sawyer Lofgreen

Ruth Marie Sawyer Lofgreen, of Norton, Kansas, passed away at the age of 92 on December 17, 2019 at the Andbe Home in Norton, Kansas. Ruth was born to Jesse and Delia (Cass) Sawyer on December 4, 1927 in Naponee, Nebraska. She graduated from Beaver City High School in 1945. She married Denzel Lofgreen at her parents’ home near Beaver City on November 9, 1945. The two newlyweds spent their married life working together on the family farm on the Kansas-Nebraska state line. She was married to Denzel for 73 years and they had four children– Denzel Harold, Constance Ann, Craig Sawyer, and Jon Charles. Ruth devoted much time to the children and their activities and pursuits. She worked as an office manager for Dr. Glenn Klein for a number of years and enjoyed and took great pride in her work there. She spoke frequently of the various dental patients, whom she enjoyed serving. Ruth was active at Grace Chapel in her early years, and later in the Norton Christian Church, where she taught an adult Sunday School class. She was the first woman to serve as a member of the Building and Grounds committee and was involved with the funeral dinner committee. She was always interested in activities and ongoing projects in the Norton community. She volunteered for fifteen years, serving 500 hours at the Norton County Hospital as a Red Cross Volunteer. She served as a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador for several years. She was the County Safety Chairperson for Farm Bureau District Leader of the Year. She was a member of the DSNWK Board and the Norton County Mental Health Board. She was also an advisor to the Northwest Kansas Water Board. She also served on the County Extension Board, and was awarded Master Homemaker through Kansas State University Extension in 1987. She was a member of the Republican Central Committee and served on the Republican Women’s Committee. Ruth will be remembered fondly for her encouragement of friends who were struggling, her interest in people, and her engaging, curious nature. She took pride in being an active member of the community, and in her later years she made a point to befriend people of all ages who she felt needed prayer and support. She delivered several presentations on tea sets, and on potted plant “lady heads”, a collection of antique containers for plants which symbolized to her the flowering and flourishing of women’s creativity in the era which made up her formative years. As the family expanded, she took pleasure in interaction with the incoming members, and in watching new great grandchildren change and grow.Ruth is survived by her son Denzel and wife Joyce Lofgreen of Norton, Kansas, daughter Connie Lofgreen of Omaha, Nebraska, sons Dr. Craig Lofgreen of Lee’s Summit, Missouri and Jon and wife Elaine Lofgreen of Norton, Kansas. In addition to her children, she leaves as her surviving legacy 13 grandchildren: Brock Lofgreen, Ty Reynolds, Holly Lofgreen, Matthew Lofgreen, Regan Lofgreen, Lyda Reynolds Lohmeier, Kelly Lofgreen, Blair Reynolds, Seth Lofgreen, Bryan Lofgreen, Ashton Lofgreen, Andrew Lofgreen and Bryce Lofgreen. She also leaves behind 17 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She was also preceded in death by her three siblings, Hazel Siefken, Grace Grantham and Harold Sawyer, as well as a grandchild, Heather Lofgreen and a great grandchild, Jude Lofgreen. Viewing and visitation will be Sunday, December 22, 2019 from 5 PM till 7 PM at the Norton Christian Church, in Norton, Kansas and prior to the funeral service. Funeral services will be Monday, December 23, 2019 at 10:30 AM at the Norton Christian Church in Norton, Kansas with Pastor Darel Boston, officiating. Interment will follow at the Norton Cemetery, Norton, Kansas. Wenburg Funeral Home of Beaver city, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences or personal reflections may be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com