Betty Ruth Rife

1928 - 2025

Betty Ruth Rife entered eternal life on Nov. 8, 2025, at the age of 97. She passed away peacefully with her sons at her side.

Betty Ruth Shepherd was born Aug. 6, 1928, in Moberly, Missouri, the daughter of Frank Wesley and Ethel Ruth (Kleinert) Shepherd. She married Thomas Leo Rife on Oct. 2, 1949, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Warsaw, Illinois.

Betty moved with her parents and brother, Doyle, to Warsaw at age 6, where she grew up. As a child she enjoyed roller skating and bike riding. She was a cheerleader at Warsaw High School. Betty spent her professional life as a registered nurse. She graduated from Quincy Nurses College and then went on to work at St. Mary's Hospital in Macomb, Illinois. She worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois and finished her career as a caregiver nurse at the Lutheran Nursing Home in Arlington Heights.

Betty and Leo began their married lives in central Illinois before settling in the northwest Chicago suburbs of Rolling Meadows and Barrington, where they raised their three sons. Betty was loved and adored by her sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and so many friends, all of whom will miss her greatly.

As an adult she enjoyed camping, traveling, and playing pinochle and bridge with friends. She enjoyed reading and doing word searches. More than anything, she loved being with her family whenever they gathered; especially on summer vacations at Lake Shafer in Indiana. She was a model of kindness, unselfishness, and love. Betty Ruth was a faithful churchgoer who now rests eternally in heaven.

Betty Ruth is survived by her children Robert (Ann) of Woodstock, Illinois, Timothy (Cathy) of McHenry, Illinois, and Thomas (Tina) of Elgin, Illinois; grandchildren Matt (Erin), Josh (Kayley), Kate (Mike Wilbur), Adam, Barrett (Leslie), Clayton (Erin), Eric (Brittany), Tessa (Matt Mulvaney), Kelsey, and Kassie (fiancé Brandon Cork); 15 great-grandchildren (Grace, Joshua, Tyler, Lucas, Olivia, Jackson, James, Jude, Raelyn, Maddox, Addison, Colton, Nolan, Cal, and Clara); and beloved nephews and nieces Mike Shepherd (Jane), Terry Shepherd (Harris Elder), Steve Sperry (Kathy), Julie Regh (Greg).

She was reunited in death with her husband Thomas Leo, infant daughter Kathryn, brother Doyle Shepherd, and her parents, Frank and Ethel Shepherd.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Shepherd Premier Senior Living in Harvard, IL and the hospice team with St. Croix Hospice Care for their loving care and attention.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 6-8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 7100 Harvard Hills Road, Harvard, IL, 60033.

Additional visitation time will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. funeral service at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 250 S. 4th St., Warsaw, IL. Interment to follow the service at Oakland Cemetery in Warsaw.

Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home of Harvard, Illinois, and Printy Funeral Home of Warsaw, Illinois, are in charge of arrangements.