Ruth A. Widman

Faithful and beloved retired missionary Ruth Widman, wife of Rev. Harvey Widman (deceased) passed into Heavenly realms July 26th after a short illness. She was 107 years old.

The Widmans attended North Park College in 1941, were dedicated for missionary service and served as missionaries until 1980. Harvey was ordained in 1941 and received his M. A. in Missions from Hartford Seminary Foundation in 1949. Ruth supported every endeavor.

Ruth and Harvey left for the Congo in 1942 by ship amid a time when there were submarine attacks on the US in the Atlantic during WWII. Their trip was fraught with dangers and adventures. The couple ultimately ministered for 29 years in Congo. Their hearts for missions also inspired others to the mission field.

In Congo, Ruth taught the Bible to women and led other activities. Her favorite was teaching the Congolese to sing in harmony. “They could sing individually, but they couldn’t hit the half notes.” She taught them using songs that had been translated from the Covenant Hymnal into Lingala.

Ruth grew up in Mead, NE in a large family, now deceased, on a farm with fields of grain, animals, and an orchard. Ruth was active in school, and later attended the University of Nebraska becoming a teacher. She sang in a trio with her musical sisters Dorothy and Marion and made a record at Moody Bible Institute recording their favorite songs before Ruth left for Africa. All her sisters, now deceased, were expert in many talents, trading cooking recipes, home decorating, gardening ideas among other talents. They all knew how to sew expertly making garments that today would be considered very professional. Ruth, Dorothy, and Marion were artists, their paintings were created in oil, watercolor, and acrylic mediums. They all served in their respective churches and supported each other through the years.

During retirement Ruth and Harvey served at Rolling Hills Covenant Church, the Tucson Covenant Church and helped with World Relief before retiring to the Holmstaad in Geneva, IL.

Ruth is survived by three children: Sandra (Wayne), Harvey (Kari) and Robert or Bob (Joyce). She has six grandchildren (John, Ben, Anna, Faith, Stacie, Kathy) and 4 great grandchildren. Ruth was predeceased by husband Harvey, brother Walter, sisters Lorraine, Margaret, Dorothy and Marion. Ruth was a dedicated servant of Jesus Christ, a true prayer warrior, and fierce in her faith.

The family would like to thank all who helped Ruth at the Covenant Living Holmstaad Campus in Geneva, IL. All these folks strive to give the best care to their residents and patients and to the volunteers as well as paid helpers who enable the quality of life to be tailored to each person.

Funeral will be at 10:30 am Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the Mead Covenant Church (New Life Ministries), 1540 County Road 10, Mead, NE 68041. Interment will be at Morningside Cemetery, Mead.

Ruth supported many Christian organizations including those listed below as well as many other groups. Those wishing to honor Ruth Widman may donate to any of the following organizations:

Mead Covenant Church 1540 County Road 10, Mead, NE 68041

The Evangelical Covenant Church, 8303 W Higgins Rd, Chicago, IL 60631; this includes

Globally Serve (World Missions), Covenant World Relief, The Paul Carlson Foundation

or any of the Covenant Churches they served in such as the Rolling Hills Covenant Church, CA; Tucson Covenant Church, First Covenant Church, Chicago, IL. and the Batavia Covenant Church in Batavia, IL. https://www.bataviacov.org

Covenant Harbor, 1724 Main Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147

Covenant Living at the Holmstaad, 700 W. Fabyan Pkwy, Batavia, IL 60510

Voice of the Martyrs, https://www.persecution.com

Gideons, https://www.gideons.org

Billy Graham Association or Samaritan’s Purse: billygraham.org