STELK, Ruth L.

Ruth L. Stelk, 97, of Grand Island, died Sunday, October 24, 2004 at the Wedgewood Care Center in Grand Island. Funeral services will be on Thursday at 10:30 A.M. at the First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Ray Schroeder will officiate. Burial will be at the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4:00 until 8:00 P.M. with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. Mrs. Stelk was born on May 13, 1907 to Philip & Minnie (Dulitz) Glause on the family farm near Worms. Survivors of the immediate family include two sons and daughters-in-law, Art & Gerri Stelk and Norman & Shirley Stelk of Grand Island; one daughter and son-in-law, Madeline Welty Geldis and Pete Geldis of Omaha; daughter-in-law, VaLon Stelk of Grand Island; and son-in-law, Dale Mettenbrink of Grand Island. Additional survivors include 21 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great grandchildren. Mrs. Stelk received her education at a rural school near Worms. She married Arthur Stelk on September 23, 1925 at Worms. Mrs. Stelk assisted her husband on the family farm southwest of Grand Island until they moved to Grand Island in 1958. For the last 9 and one-half years she has resided at Riverside Lodge and Wedgewood Care Center. Before her health failed, she loved to garden and raise beautiful flowers. She cared deeply for her family and could remember all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s names and birthdays. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1981; her parents; one son, Elton Stelk; two daughters, Deloris Mettenbrink, and Imogene Horst; and two sons-in-law Delton Welty, and Merle Horst, and by 4 brothers, and 6 sisters.