Ruth Nichols

Ruth Mininger Buerge Nichols was born to William and Elizabeth (Peters) Mininger on April 15, 1933. She peacefully passed away in the early morning hours of December 10, 2025 at Brookdale Senior Living, Dodge City, Kansas reaching the age of 92.

One of the youngest in a family of 10, her early years were spent in Gratiot County Michigan She was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite by Minister Glenn Litwiller on Feb 8, 1948.

As a youth she experienced the heartbreak of losing her father which was unexpected and devastating. As more and more of the family left home, Ruth and her sister Elaine helped their mother keep the home fires burning. A special bond with her nieces and nephews was formed during these years. As a young lady she began her employment as a housekeeper and babysitter in Alma. Then she spent many years working at the Wolverine shoe factory.

She married Frank Buerge on June 15, 1975, and they made their home in Sharon Springs, Kansas. She accepted Frank’s three children as her own. Frank was a handyman and she enjoyed helping him when she could. Heartbreak struck again on Sept 22,1999, when her husband of almost 25 years succumbed to cancer leaving her very lonely.

A little over a year later on October 22, 2000, she married Vernon Nichols at Geiger, Alabama. Once again she opened her heart to another family and graciously accepted them. She learned to love the South and they enjoyed their retirement years together. When Vernon had a stroke she once again became a loving caregiver. After spending one year at Brooksville, MS, they moved to Montezuma, KS when Vernon needed more care. She enjoyed her little apartment outside of Bethel Home where she could go spend the days with him. Vernon passed away in 2014, and she continued living in her apartment until 2020 when she moved to Brookdale Senior Center in Dodge City.

She longed to go to her Heavenly home and she has been granted that wish. She has left to mourn her passing her brother Don and his wife Gretta, Ithaca Michigan; her sisters in law Barb Mininger, Almena, WI, and LaFreda Mininger, Barron WI, and many dear nieces and nephews. Her Buerge family, Bonita and Kurt Hagemeister, Jason and Debra, RoseAnne and David Sather, all of Greeley Colorado and their children and grandchildren. Her Nichols family, Rachel and Larry Unruh, Copeland Kansas, Ron and Camilla, Alan and LeAnne, Clark and Judy, DeeAnn and Steve Koehn, Bob and Jana all of Geiger, Ala, and their children and grandchildren. Ruth was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents, five sisters, three brothers, one sister-in-law and six brothers-in-law.

Funeral service will be held at Salem Mennonite Church, Copeland on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Sam Unruh and Ryan Nightingale presiding. Burial will be at Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM (CST) at the Sharon Springs Cemetery in Sharon Springs, KS. Visitation will be at Salem Mennonite Church on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.