Richard Allen Kruse

Richard Allen Kruse passed from this life on November 6, 2024, one day short of his 88th birthday, after a short illness. Richard was born in Oakland, California, November 7, 1936, the third of five children, to Vivian Pease and George Kruse. He was deeply impacted by his mother's early death when he was seven years old, and by a diagnosis of a serious heart condition at age 13. After some very difficult childhood years, he found a sense of community and purpose with the Church of Christ, and dedicated his life to Christian ministry. He met his wife, Bettie Lou Burgin, at Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tennessee, and went on to complete a Bachelor's degree, and later multiple Master's, degrees, at Harding College in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1960 Richard and Bettie moved to Helsinki, and later, Tampere, Finland, where Richard worked as a missionary.
In 1967, the family, together with daughter, Lydia, immigrated to Toronto, where Richard embraced his new host country; there he established an international bible correspondence school, dedicating himself to teaching the foundations of Christianity, eventually to a large and broad audience worldwide, especially in Africa.
Richard was deeply spiritual and a strong believer in the power of grace, hope and love. He found joy in helping others and in likeminded communities of friends. His hallmark was humor, and especially puns. He delighted in nature, in expressions of kindness and was resilient in hardship. He was an avid member of the gardening community and winner of multiple best garden awards in the City of York, in Toronto. He loved and cared for his wife Bettie throughout her lifetime struggle with bi-polar disorder, and served as long-standing president of St. George Care Community Family Council and volunteer gardener after Bettie became a resident in 2004. They were married 63 years, until she passed away from COVID in January 2021.
Richard Kruse is survived by daughter Lydia Kruse Tietz, son-in-law, Edward Tietz, Jr., and granddaughters Janey and Grace Tietz. He passed away surrounded by them in Olney, Maryland, where he had recently relocated to be close to family. Other surviving relatives include siblings James Kruse, Dorothy Kruse Pease Garrison and Janice Kruse Bearbower.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on November 30 at 2 pm at Stoney Creek Church of Christ, 105 King St. E., Stoney Creek, Ontario. Doors will open at 1 pm and there will be light refreshments afterward.
Alternatively, friends are welcome to join the service online by registering at the following link: http://bcm.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIocOquqjsrEtBAii7k2cHp4JTFUHl1QXIE#/registration
If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made in his honor to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division (cmha.ca), 180 Dundas Street W, Toronto, ON M7A 0A1, Canada http://ontario.cmha.ca, or, if preferred in the US, to the National Association on Mental Illness http://www.nami.org.
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