Ruth G. Alderfer

Ruth Gross (Derstein) Alderfer, 89, of Souderton, Pennsylvania -- formerly of Harleysville and Hatfield -- passed into the caring embrace of God, Monday morning, September 29, 2025, at Souderton Mennonite Homes. She was the beloved wife of Earl H. Alderfer, with whom she shared 69 years of marriage. Born November 4, 1935, on a busy dairy and produce farm in rural Hatfield Township, PA, Ruth was the first daughter of the late Wallace Hagey Derstein and his second wife, the late Emma O. (Gross) Derstein, long time members of the Plains Mennonite congregation, near Lansdale, PA. She was known by some locals as one of the seven daughters of Wallace and Emma (Naomi-Ruth-Esther-Miriam-Mary-Martha-Rachel). Through her parents, she was descended from numerous German-speaking Mennonite immigrant families who had settled in Bucks and Montgomery County area in the 18th century. As a girl, Ruth attended the Hatfield Joint Consolidated School, Hatfield, PA, through 10th grade - a bit unusual for a conservative Mennonite farm girl of the time. After high school, Ruth worked for a couple of years as a bookkeeper at the former Hatfield National Bank. Before long, she felt an obligation to return to her family home and farm, to help her mother with housekeeping, caring for the younger children in the family, and with farm work. During these years, she also worked with her father at his "stall" in the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. There she enjoyed meeting customers, selling farm-made products, and learning how to handle money. Though they were from the same Mennonite community in Montgomery County, it was here that she first "noticed" a young man, Earl Alderfer, whose father also had a stall, just across the aisle at the Market. A relationship soon developed. Before and during their courtship, Ruth and Earl enjoyed attending Mennonite Young People's Institutes, Sunday afternoon and evening hymn sings, Mennonite Bible Conferences, evangelistic meetings and the occasional "tent revival" meetings, often with other young folks. They were married at the Plains Mennonite Meetinghouse on May 26, 1956, by Bishop John E. Lapp. At the wedding, Ruth carried a small bouquet of her favorite flower - Lilly of the Valley. After marriage, Ruth moved quickly into the role of homemaker and mother. In the late 1960s and 1970s, she also worked part-time at the former Gra-Brams Country Butcher Shop in Harleysville and as a home-based seamstress for Clemens Cleaners, Lansdale, PA. Her busy sewing machine helped generate needed income. She later worked in food services for the Souderton Area School District and later at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School. Ruth was a former member of Plains Mennonite Church (where she was baptized) and a longtime member of Salford Mennonite Church, where she served in various ways over the years. She was a children's Sunday school teacher, was active in the Women's Fellowship, the Sewing Circle, kitchen committee, and a volunteer in the Salford Church Garden. She also served on the church council and chaired the decorating committee during a major church construction project in 1976. In the local and church communities, Ruth was a leader of the 4-H sewing club, participated in quilting groups at Salford Mennonite Church and Dock Woods Community and was a volunteer with Mennonite Disaster Service. From 1997 to 2018, she volunteered at the Care & Share Thrift Shoppes in Souderton. She and Earl enjoyed taking exercise classes at the Genesis Fitness Center, and the Harleysville YMCA. Ruth enjoyed produce and flower gardening, canning and freezing fresh produce, quilting, baking, and reading Mennonite periodicals. She welcomed guests into her home regularly, hosting visiting mission workers, Mennonite Central Committee trainees, and Mennonite high school touring choir members. She enjoyed traveling, preparing special meals for youth benefit auctions at church, and teaching her grandchildren how to sew. She was known for her hardworking and thrifty lifestyle and passed those values on to her family by word and example. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt. She lived a life committed to her family, friends, neighbors and faith community. In addition to her husband, Ruth is survived by her two daughters, Julia D. Alderfer Stauffer and husband Michael of Harrisonburg, VA, Ferne D. Alderfer of Richmond, VA; her three sons, Joel D. Alderfer and wife Cindy of Harleysville, PA, Steven D. Alderfer and wife Denise of Sellersville, PA, Christopher E. Alderfer and wife Jana of Harleysville, PA; her nine grandchildren: Garret, Peter, Daniel, Nathan, Laura, Benjamin, Matthew, Samuel, and Eli; her five great-grandchildren: Theodore, Lilly Ann, Nova, Ember and James; her five sisters, Esther Friesen and husband David of Souderton, PA, Miriam "Mim" G. Miller of Fort Collins, CO, Mary G. Derstein of Boalsburg, PA, Martha G. Marcho and husband Wayne of Harleysville, PA, Rachel G. Leatherman and husband Charles "Chip" of Linville, VA. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two brothers, Paul G. and Wallace G. Derstein, and her four half-siblings, Harvey K. Derstein, Nelson K. Derstein, Naomi K. Derstein Ressler and Henry K. Derstine. A family visitation will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 11:30am to 12:45pm at Souderton Mennonite Homes, 207 W. Summit Street, Souderton, Pennsylvania 18964, followed by a memorial service in Summit View Auditorium at 1:00pm. A private burial will take place in the Salford Mennonite Cemetery, Harleysville, PA. Instead of sending flowers, please make memorial contributions to: Living Branches (c/o Agape Fund), 275 Dock Drive, Lansdale, PA 19446. Arrangements by: Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 East Broad Street, Souderton, Pennsylvania 18964. To send online condolences to the family visit www.andersfh.com.