May 28, 1922-Dec. 31, 2013
Ruth Elaine Burch, 91, left this world to begin a new life with her Lord and Savior on Dec. 31, 2013. Ruth was the youngest and last surviving of 5 children; Morris, Everett, Fern and Kermit. She was born to Theodore and Emelia Stromberg in Minot, N.D.
After graduating from high school, Ruth attended and received her diploma from Fargo Business College. Ruth and her family moved to Kansas City, Mo., where Ruth went to work for The Calvin Company. It was at the Calvin Company that Ruth met her loving husband and companion for life, David H. Burch. Ruth and David were married on Jan 5, 1950, and began a journey of love and life together. Ruth decided she could best serve her family by becoming a “professional” homemaker, and she was one of the best! Ruth and David adoringly raised 4 children, sharing her faith always. They were actively involved with building a Lutheran church in Lee’s Summit, Mo. Once it was completed, due to David’s health, they decided they needed to move to a dryer climate. They lived the majority of their 55-year marriage in the Southwest United States until David was called home to the Lord. Ruth will be dearly missed by her family and friends and remembered as a beautiful and loving person inside and out. She is survived by: four children, Ron Burch (wife Angela), Debbie Povlich (husband Nathan), Steve Burch (wife Tammy), Diane Raines. Ruth also has 9 grandchildren, Lisa, Michael, Brian, Rebecca, Jason, Christina, Eric, Lynda, and David. She was blessed with 10 great-grandchildren, West, Clayton, Cody, Precious, Anthony, Brianna, Mandee, Hayleigh, William and Ethan. Ruth is also survived by her lifelong best friend, Gloria Kallenberger, who lives in Missouri and her “adopted” daughter, Karen Burch, from Utah. Services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014,at Mountain View Cemetery, 7900 E. Main, in Mesa, Arizona 85207. The viewing will be at 1 p.m., services at 2 p.m., followed by the interment.