Ruth Duerst, age 88 of New Glarus, left us on February 20, 2017, to play the golf courses of heaven with Paul, her beloved husband of 46 years. She was born on September 21, 1928, in the Town of Adams, the daughter of Oluf and Olga (Flattum) Stenbroten.

Ruth attended the Postville School and graduated from Blanchardville High School in 1946. On September 7, 1947, she was united in marriage to Paul Duerst at the Adams Lutheran Church. The couple then moved to the family farm in New Glarus. Besides being a farm wife, Ruth worked at the Swiss Colony; was a bookkeeper at Knobel Garage and retired after working at Roy's Market. She also took great pride in being the Town of Exeter Treasurer for many years. Ruth was an avid golfer and bowler. She never found a card game she didn't want to be a part of. Ruth loved to crochet and garden, and she enjoyed many hours as part of the quilting group at the Adams Lutheran Church. Her greatest joy was time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ruth was very proud of her Norwegian Heritage and had made two trips to Norway to meet her extended family.

Ruth is survived by her children, Kent Duerst of Monticello and Jane (Marcus) Wahl of Sun Prairie, WI; grandchildren, Jennifer Wahl-Moran and Mark (Raquel) Wahl, both of Madison, Brian Duerst and Kevin (Alicia) Duerst, both of New Glarus, and Paula Duerst of Evansville, WI; great-grandchildren, Emma Moran and Bronson Duerst. She is further survived by the mother of her grandchildren, Nancy Duerst of New Glarus, who's love and devotion to Grandma Ruth never wavered; and her brothers, John Stenbroten of Monticello and Donald (Lila) Stenbroten of Middleton; a niece; and nine nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, in August of 1994; parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law; a brother, Olin Stenbroten; sister-in-law, Bea Stenbroten; and a niece, Deanne Stenbroten.

Funeral services were held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, February 25, 2017, at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home, 29 Sixth Avenue, New Glarus, with the Rev. Kim Moeller and Pastor Patty Marty officiating with burial in the Swiss Church Cemetery.

Relatives and friends called from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Saturday, February 25, 2017, at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home in New Glarus.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ali and the staffs of the Monroe Clinic and New Glarus Home who made Ruth's final journey as comfortable as possible. The family also would like to extend a very special thank you to Ruth's neighbors, Alice, Leroy, and Barb.

A memorial fund has been established in her memory.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.