Ruth Ellen Britton

Ruth Ellen (Baumgartner) Britton, 81, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, passed to her heavenly reward on February 21st, 2025, following a courageous battle with health issues the last few months.

Ruth was born on November 12th, 1943 in Westfield, Texas to Carl Henry Baumgartner and Rose Marie Ferguson Baumgartner.

Ruth spent the first years of her life growing up in Westfield, TX and Humble, TX (both north of Houston), surrounded by cousins and family.  She held dear memories of working next to her daddy in the garden and playing with her cousins.

By the time Ruth entered high school, she had moved to Kim, Colorado, where she met the love of her life, Leroy Britton.  At first, she did not like Leroy, since he would clown around in class, but he eventually won her over with his irresistible, sweet natured charm.  They later would marry on September 10th, 1961.  After high school graduation, Ruth and Leroy spent a yr in Alamosa, CO where they attended college, before they decided to move back home to farm and start their family.  They were very opposite in many ways, yet together, they built a loving family.  To their joy, God blessed them with 3 children, DeWayne Eugene in 1962, Kimila Sue in 1966, and Gelaney Ann in 1968.  Over the years, Ruth and Leroy took in three nephews (Troy, Travis and Jason DeSalvo) to help raise, and a very special foreign exchange student from Germany (Mandy) for a year in 1985/1986.

Ruth and Leroy spent their life together farming between Pritchett and Kim, Colorado. Alongside farming, they also kept Guernsey milk cows, which provided lots of milk for churned butter and homemade bread.   Over the years, together they would raise pigs, pheasants, quail, chuckers, ducks, llamas, donkeys, and other animals.  Planting and tending vegetable gardens were a fun part of Ruth’s day, including planting flowers and her huge pumpkin patch.  Her grandchildren could be assured they would receive a wonderful care package come fall filled with her home-grown pumpkins and other goodies.  Ruth’s home canned pickles were a hit with anyone who ate them, and her sweet, tart cherry cobbler was hard to beat.

Ruth owned a fabric store, Rainbow Country, from 1984-1986 in Springfield, Colorado.  Later, she was an employee at the Pritchett Post Office in Pritchett, Colorado, and then the Postmaster in Kim, Colorado for several years.

Ruth was never one to not stay busy.  She had many hobbies that included sewing, baking, gardening, canning, and sending her grandchildren care packages that were always a delight to their senses.

Ruth and Leroy were very active in their church and community.  Ruth enjoyed teaching Bible classes for many years.  She saw the importance of teaching children about her precious Jesus from an early age, including babies.  This was such a deep conviction to her that she stressed that importance to her children and backed that fact by making sure each of her grandchildren had their first Bibles and many Bible story books, videos and any other material she would come across that she thought would lead them to know God.  In fact, the top priorities in Ruth’s life were her family and making sure the children at church knew God and their Savior Jesus.  God, Jesus and Holy Spirit were the center of their home.  Ruth sought the Lord continually as to how to share with her family and others the love of God.  She never stopped asking how she might pray for her grandchildren and great grandchildren, even in the last months of her life.  Ruth enjoyed being hospitable and hosted many people in her home over the years.  Sending cards of encouragement to her family and friends was a ministry that was dear to her.  She never just sent a card without also adding her own thoughtful words of encouragement and love.  Spending time with her children and grandchildren was a highlight of her life.

After the loss of her husband in 2010, she moved to Garden City, KS to be near her daughter, Gelaney and her family.  God blessed them with 14 years of her daily presence in their lives.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.  She leaves behind her brother, Ralph, her two sisters, LaVerta and Rose, and her two half-brothers, Stanley and Clinton, along with her three children, son, DeWayne and wife, Debbie Britton (Olathe, KS), and two daughters, Kimila Sharpe (Lamar, CO); and Gelaney and husband, Shannon Thys (Deerfield, KS).  She also leaves behind 19 grandchildren, Michael Thys and wife, Alyssa (Harlingen, TX); Shalee Britton (Dry Ridge, KY); Sarah Maddux and husband, Clayton (Deerfield, KS); Chase Britton and wife, Rachel (Ft Bliss, TX, serving in Poland); Kaylee Watkins and husband, Daniel (Paola, KS); Rebekah Thys (Garden City, KS); Titus Sharpe (Wiley, CO); Caleb Britton (Tampa, FL); Jacob Thys (Garden City, KS); Simeon Sharpe and wife, Kyla (Walsh, CO); Bethany Britton (Olathe, KS); Jaci McCarty and husband, Kalan (Lamar, CO); Hadassah Britton (Olathe, KS); TeAnna Sharpe (Lamar, CO); Abriannah, Amanda-Grace, Joshua, Josiah and Jonathan Britton (Olathe, KS); and 9 great-grandchildren, Susannah, Sylvie, Shepherd and Selah Thys (Harlingen, TX); Carter and Roland Maddux (Deerfield, KS); Graysen and Kamdyn McCarty (Lamar, CO); and Lane Britton (Ft Bliss, TX); along with nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 1st, at the Kim Church of Christ in Kim, Colorado with Pastor Michael Thys, her grandson, officiating.  Graveside services and internment will follow at the Kim Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at Maltbie Funeral Services in Springfield, CO on Friday, February 28th from 5-7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Answers in Genesis in Petersburg, KY.

Arrangements are under the direction of Maltbie Funeral Services in Springfield, CO.