The following is taken from a church bulletin entitled Dedication, May 17, 1987, St. John's United Church of Christ, published for the dedication service for the Parish Hall renovation.
St. John's Parish House 1955
The following bit of history, taken from a March, 1955, weekly "Messenger", may help us understand who Miss Bertha Ruess was and her dedication to St. John's.
WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE DEDICATION SERVICE OF THE BERTHA RUESS MEMORIAL BUILDING, (WHICH WILL SERVE AS ST. JOHN'S PARISH HOUSE), IN WHICH SERVICE WE HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE LATE MISS BERTHA RUESS.
Miss Ruess was born December 28, 1865, and died at the age of 88 years on December 28, 1953.
In a letter to Pastor Melchert she wrote: "You wanted to know something of my activities in our church throughout the years. I was fortunate in having parents who saw that their children were tied up with church and set the example of going and serving as well as they could. Mother was very active, as was father when he could be at church. He was a doctor and very frequently he was called out of service to attend some sick person. My very earliest recollections are bound up with the first little frame church built soon after the church was organized in 1845. It was Christmas time and my three older sisters were learning recitations which were to be given Christmas in the church. I had heard their recitations so often that I could say them as well as they could. It was snowing. There was only a narrow cow-path. The sisters went ahead, taking turns then mother. I must have been three years at that time. We went into the church where there was the tree and then recitations were given. I thought I was going to speak also, and when the program came to a close and I had not spoken, I screamed lustily and so persistently that the Pastor, Rev. Lenshau, came to see what the trouble was. When I screamed that I wanted to say a piece, he took me in his arms and I said all the Christmas pieces and for good measure, 'E-E-E- Die Katze liegt im Schnee - Also sie wieder 'raum kam, Hat sie weisse Hosen an.' --- I think I was not taken to Sunday School again.... Years later we went into the second church and then I went to Sunday School...Very soon I was teaching...In 1912 I took the present class...I did not do too well at all the things I understood, but I have tried and had such joy out of being able to help ever so little. If more people would help with Kingdom work, they would find much joy and satisfaction in doing it. The disciples asked Jesus, 'What shall I have in return?' The church worker, the Sunday School worker, all ask the same thing. Here are some answers. 'I have in return my own growth spiritually, higher ideals, the satisfaction of knowing that I am serving.' The most perfect character that ever walked this earth was a teacher. He was a great physician, a great preacher. In His life, method, example, consecration, we must find our help, encouragement, and inspiration.' "
May her deep humility, her noble Christian Spirit and graciousness, remain a treasured memory and challenge us to give of our best to the Master in love and service.
From a mimeographed document in the St. John's archives, apparently a history of the Ladies Aid. [1955?]:
At the close of the year 1953 our beloved president, Bertha Ruess, was suddenly called to her eternal home. This was a shock for the Ladies Aid - since she was ill only a few hours. Miss Ruess was not only our President, she was our good friend and our teacher. Every sorrow and every joy was shared with her. We could write so much about her - but everyone in St. John's congregation knew this kind, beloved woman. Oft-times, as she talked to us and taught us, she quoted from her favorite hymn:
Die Heimat winkt, Viel zogen mir voran,
Im Herrn verbunden heiss beweinde Lieben
Nun folg ich Euch, die Lichte Himmel's Bahn
Die Heimat winkt!