Ruth Goldie Shutter, 85, of Kearney, NE, passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 4:44 am, at Kearney, NE Regional Medical Center, surrounded by her family.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 5 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mexico, MO, with Pastor Donaldo Sonntag officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah, WI. There will be no visitation.
Ruthie was born on March 23, 1941, in Barron, WI to Eduard and Goldie (Johnson) Bjugstad. Confirmed at First Lutheran, also known as Norwegian Lutheran, she was an active part of church life growing up. At Barron High, Ruthie was a majorette, leading the band with her twirling baton and was bestowed the honor of Homecoming Queen before graduating in 1959.
Born into a musical family, naturally Ruth went on to study instrumental and choral arts at the University of Wisconsin in Superior. During her time at the University, Duane Robert Shutter came into the picture and they married February 4, 1961. Through her education she fine tuned and polished her music talents. Those talents were mostly enjoyed by the congregations in her life when she played the piano for services, sang in the choir and accompanied the Praise Band.
While living in Lake Geneva, WI, and hired as a long-term substitute teacher, not only were students taught a musical curriculum but Ruth produced the Christmas program for a local school.
In 1973 the family moved to Mexico, MO and Ruth was employed as a nurse’s aide at Audrain County Hospital in the emergency and surgery areas until she found her niche in the maternity ward with the newborns. In 1976, after receiving training as an optician, she began a career working for Dr. Robert Searfoss, O.D. in private practice. She ordered stylish frames, fit and adjusted glasses and taught patients how to use their new contact lenses. Working for Dr. David Luke in later years until she eventually retired in 2011.
After Duane retired Ruth helped him raise and train Arabian horses which brought her back to the formative years in Barron on a dairy farm with Belgian horses. When they weren’t pulling plows or wagons she loved riding them, sometimes with only twine as reins and fence posts for mounting the gentle giants. When walking across the fields she was sometimes terrified by a couple of foals that often spied her and galloped to greet their small human companion. Guided by a deep faith, retirement was spent serving others. Ruth offered lunches, smiles, hugs and encouragement to students at St. Brendan’s school while sharing the Gospel through Bible school and in community outreach at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
In 2020 Ruth relocated to Kearney, NE to spend treasured time with her family and grandchildren, continuing her life of faith through worship, service and study at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Proud of her heritage, Ruth delighted in sharing the Norwegian and Swedish traditions of culture and cuisine. In the quiet times she enjoyed the challenge of putting puzzles together while cherishing and adoring her poodles.
She is survived by her three daughters; Cathy Stankovic, Cheri Shutter, Carin and her husband Jason Koetters; grandson, Tony and wife Sydnie Koetters and granddaughter, Kelsey Koetters.
Other survivors include a sister, Olive (Robert) Weber of Grand Forks, N.D. along with many nieces and nephews.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters Anita (Don) Nevin, Harriet (Marvin) Ness and brother Ludvig (Mildred) Bjugstad.
Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, June 5th at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mexico, MO, with Pastor Donaldo Sonntag officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah, WI. There will be no visitation.
The family suggests memorial gifts be made to Samaritan’s Purse, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mexico or Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney, NE is assisting the family arrangements.
