CURTIS - Ruth M. Welch Harris, of Curtis, died Sept. 12, 2004, at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis.

She was born Aug. 4, 1909, to John E. and Agnes Gerlits Welch south of Moorefield. She graduated from Moorefield High School in 1928, and went on to attend the Nebraska Wesleyan University for one year.

On Jan. 11, 1940, she married Melvin Lewis Harris in North Platte and he preceded her in death on April 13, 1985. She taught school in Public Country Schools in Lincoln, Frontier and Red Willow Counties. Later, she taught four years in cities including North Platte. She spent two years during World War II working at the Army Air Base in McCook. She also worked at the Prisoners of War Camp in Indianola. After the war the couple moved to McCook and later to North Platte where she taught at the Buffalo School. After moving to Colby, Kan., and residing there for over 15 years, they moved to Curtis.

Mrs. Harris received the AkSarBen Good Neighbor Award in 1986 for her work on registering country cemeteries.^* She wrote various community history books. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and many crafts.

Survivors nieces and nephews, John E. Welch of McLean, Va., Richard D. Welch of Millbrae, Calif., Pamela Andrews of Orangevale, Calif., and Anita Welch of Lincoln; and great-nieces and nephews, Ondrea and Alyssa Goranson of Lincoln, Nathaniel Welch of Millbrae, Calif., Richard J. Welch, Jr. of Redwood City, Calif., and Jereme Andrews of Belmont, Calif.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, John Homer and Marion Elden.

A memorial has been established.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Berean Bible Church, Curtis with the Rev. Richard Troup officiating. Burial is in the Moorefield Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Blase-Wetzel Funeral home in Curtis.

North Platte Telegraph, 14 Sep 2004

^*It is in memory of Ruth Welch Harris that I respectfully note that the tombstone inscription project presented on this website began with consultations with Ruth and her prior work on compiling the Farnam cemetery inscriptions. -Weldon Hoppe