Ruth C. (Schmidt) Dede was born on July 19, 1912 in Ireton, Sioux County, Iowa the 2nd oldest of 10 children to Rev. Prof. J.E. Richard Schmidt and Clara (Zwemke) Schmidt and passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2015 in Tucson, Arizona at the age of 103 years, 2 months, and 19 days. She graduated from high school and attended more than two years of Teacher's College. On June 17, 1939 she was united in marriage to The Rev. Dr. Roland Albert Dede. This marriage was blessed with one daughter, Lois. Dr. Dede and Ruth served parishes in Lily-White Lake and Mellen, Wisconsin before moving to Oakland, California with Concordia College. Ruth also worked for the State of California. In 1967, they moved to Seward, Nebraska . Ruth was a teacher and worked at Memorial Hospital in Seward, retiring in 1978 when she moved to Arizona. Ruth was a member of Fountain of Life Lutheran Church and School in Tucson. She participated in many opportunities for service, including chairperson of World Relief Care; the Braille Workshop; music for large care facilities; writing, visiting or telephoning home-bound members. She was also a charter member of the Quilters Guild of Tucson and a member of the G.S. Home for persons with disabilities. In 2004 Ruth was honored as a recipient of the Crest of Christ from Concordia University-Seward, Nebraska. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Prof. J.E. Richard and Clara Schmidt; her husband, Rev . Dr. Roland A. Dede in 1970; by her brothers and sisters, Hulda, Luther, Eugene, Quinta, Marcus, Dorcas, Robert, Gerhard, David and their husbands and wives. Ruth is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Lois and John E. Munger; granddaughters, Elizabeth Boccardo, Sarah (Mike) Barker and Emily (Joe) Toney; 10 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Marion Schmidt (Marcus) and Helen Schmidt Paul (David); nieces and nephews, other relatives , friends, and her church family.