Ruth Banzet

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Ruth N. Banzet, 92, of Erie, died at 10:40 a.m., Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.

She was born October 26, 1931, on a farm near McCune, to Harvey O. and Violet W. (Wells) Elmore. She grew up in the rural areas of McCune and Erie and attended rural schools. She attended Stark High School one year and graduated from Erie High School in 1950. 

For three years she attended the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing (Sisters of St. Joseph) in Parsons and became a registered nurse. Her first job as a nurse was at the hospital in Chanute.

On December 26, 1956 she and Marvin R. “Butch” Banzet were married at the Erie Federated Church. During his career with the United States Air Force the family lived in Florida, Maine, California, Japan and Washington. In 1969 they returned to Erie. Butch preceded her in death January 31, 2016.

She worked some as a R.N. when the family lived in other states and upon returning to Kansas Ruth first worked as a nurse in Chanute. She was employed as a nurse at the Labette County Medical Center in Parsons from 1974 to 1994.

She was a member of the Erie Federated Church and of its women’s organization and volunteered in various areas of church life. She was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed counted cross stitch, cake decorating and many other crafts. She belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary and was a volunteer at numerous Red Cross blood drives in Erie.

Survivors are a son, Royce Banzet of Erie; two daughters, Janna Belusko (Tom) of Norman, OK and Karen Stipp (Gary) of Erie; grandchildren, Adam Belusko of Oklahoma City, Hannah Belusko (Patrick Davis) of Pflugerville, TX, Abigail Belusko of Norman, OK, Jason Stipp of Erie, Anthony Stipp (Sunni) of Frontenac, Nathan Stipp of Pittsburg and Nicholas Stipp of Oronogo, MO; great-grandchildren Nolan and Walker Stipp of Frontenac; and a sister, Phyllis Wheat of Wichita. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl Elmore and Gerald Elmore, a sister, Barbara Standley and a granddaughter, Sarah Belusko.

The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, at the Erie Federated Church, with Pastor Shella Choi officiating. Burial will be in East Hill Cemetery. The family will greet friends at the church from 9:30 until the service hour on Saturday.

Memorials are suggested to the Erie Federated Church. They may be left at or sent to the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home at P. O. Box 182, Erie, KS 67357. Online messages may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.