Ruth Shepard

Ruth was born outside of Elm Creek, NE, to Ella and Fred Bodine. She had three sisters, but one was special -- her identical twin, Ruby. They were the best of friends and always together, using their identities to play practical jokes on friends and teachers and later on others, especially on their dates as teenagers. Ruth married two men by the name of Harry. First, Harry Stahla with whom she had three children: Harry, Marilyn, and Barbara. That marriage ended after 16 years, and after being single for several years, she met a man with whom she had been grade-school sweethearts, Harry Shepard. At their first meeting, he informed her that he had 5 children. She didn't want any part of that! But Harry pursued her and finally took her to meet his children. When she saw them, she knew that they needed a mother, and she surrendered. She inherited Dennis, Steve, Roy, Keith, and Roxy and they became instant family. They were married many years, living in Cheyenne, then Green River, Wyoming. After retirement, they moved to Tuscon, AZ where they lived until Harry died. Ruth moved to California, living with Marilyn in Westminster most of the remainder of her life. She is survived by her children, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.