Ruth A Been

Ruth Anna (Reese) Been, passed away on February 5th, 2026 in Mulvane, Kansas. She was born in Sistersville, WV to Harmon and Sarah (Miller) Reese. She graduated from St Marys High School and Mountain State College both in WV. After graduation she worked for American Cyanamid Company until her marriage to Raymond Been on November 13, 1954. Her husband Ray was in the US Air Force and for the next 20 plus years they were stationed many places throughout the United States and overseas. During these years Ruth worked for the Department of Defense, as an Administrative Contracting Officer, retiring in 1992 with 31 years of service.

Ruth was a long time member of the First Baptist Church, Mulvane, KS. She loved her church family and church activities. She loved to travel and to read; at the young age of 86 she went to the Holy Land with her church family. She belonged to many clubs and organizations over the years and held various offices in each of them.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and all of her brothers and sisters. She and her husband Ray had been married for 62 years when he passed away in February 2017. She is survived by daughter Pamela Been-Redeker and husband Don Redeker; son Bill (Sharon) Been; grand children Eli Redeker, Tucker Been, Olivia Cook, and Wyatt Been, and four great grand children Whitaker Been, Florence Been, Alden Cook, and Blair Cook.

Visitation with family will be from 5:00 to 7:00pm Friday, February 13, 2026 at Smith Family Mortuary, 501 E Louis Blvd, Mulvane, KS 67110 and funeral service is 11:00am Saturday, February 14, 2026 at the First Baptist Church of Mulvane, 1020 N 2nd Ave, Mulvane, KS 67110. Burial will take place at the Marissa Cemetery, Marissa, Illinois. 

Services will be at the First Baptist Church on February 14th, with visitation February 13th at Smith Mortuary, Mulvane.

A memorial has been established with the First Baptist Church, Mulvane, KS.