BARNEBEY, RUTH SOVILLA "RUTHIE B."

by Ruth B. Barnebey

Entry F12 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Ruth Barnebey 1982

Ruth Sovilla Barnebey was born the
daughter of Charlie and Florence Barnebey
on September 30, 1915, at their home in
Mullen. When she was 4 years old, the family
moved to Lakeside, Nebraska, where her
father was in charge of the bank. Ruth
attended school in Lakeside, and she gradu-
ated from high school as class valedictorian
in the first accredited class there.

Following graduation, Ruth went to Al-
liance, Nebraska, where she had a job as a
housekeeper for a family out in the country.
While she was there she made the decision to
become a missionary, and went to study at
Kansas City National Training School for
Christian workers in Kansas City, Missouri.
During her second year there, she became
critically ill. It was discovered that she had
double kidneys on both sides and, due to
infection, she needed surgery. Doctors oper-
ated, having told Ruth that she would likely
not survive - but survive, she did.

The following summer Ruth served as
Director of Vacation Bible Schools in the
Nebraska Northwest District of the Method-
ist Church. She traveled around the District
helping to organize and direct the teachers in
several different churches. Although she was
never able to complete her schooling and
become a missionary as she had hoped, she
has worked in the local church and taught
Sunday School most of her life.

After more than a year at home, she went
to Paxton to be with her sister, Zelma Scott.
While there she again did housework for a
family in town. When she received word that
her mother, Florence Barnebey, had been
diagnosed with cancer, Ruth returned home
to Mullen. Soon after that she became clerk
of Selective Service, and she remained in that
position for 27 years until the office was
moved to North Platte in the early 1970's.
During this same time period she also became
Welfare Director, and held this job for over
30 years before retiring in 1979.

Ruth tells the story of one of the Welfare
recipients who got married and moved out of
the state, making it necessary to close his
case. He came to her complaining that he
didn't know what he was going to do. He said,
"Ruth, I had to get married!" When she
inquired as to the reason, he replied, "Well,
you know -" then he looked kind of funny
and said, "Oh, I shouldn't be saying this to
you." She told him to go ahead, so he
continued, "If you haven't got a partner when
you die, you can't go to heaven. I had to get
married so I can go to heaven," then asked,
"So what's going to happen to you?"

There was a familiar saying often quoted
by Ruth in reference to her faithful canine
companions, and that is: "Love me - love my
dog!" Her first dog of about 15 years was a
Pekinese named "Tiny," and was a familiar
sight tripping up and down the halls of the
courthouse as she accompanied Ruth to work.
One of Tiny's many funny habits was to make
regular treks to the Co-op just down the
street from home to carry back cubes of cattle
feed that she could gnaw on for a snack.

During the years when blowouts were
plentiful in the Sandhills, Ruth was an avid
arrowhead hunter. Her friend and companion
on these many excursions was Rosalie (Motl)
Combs. There were countless times when
their car would be stuck and had to be pushed
out of the sand before returning home, many
times disappointedly not having found any
arrowheads but never without having lots of
fun in the process.

Known affectionately by her many friends
as "Ruthie B.," there were very few things
going on in Hooker County that Ruth didn't
have a hand in. She was Civil Defense
Director for several years, a steady member
and worker in the Methodist Church, mem-
ber of the Order of Eastern Star for which she
served as Worthy Matron along with her
father, Charlie Barnebey, as Worthy Patron.
In 1950 during the Crusade for Freedom,
Ruth was appointed the Hooker County
chairman when the Liberty Bell as brought
to Mullen for exhibit. She has been chairman
of Red Cross for about 30 years, as well as
heading many community campaigns for
charity causes, and serving as Treasurer for
the Hospital Auxiliary for a good many years.
Ruth has also enjoyed acting in a number of
the Historical Society's plays put on during
the County Fairs in recent years.

After retirement, Ruth has spent her time
doing the things she didn't have time for
while she was employed, especially working
with the old-timers at the Nursing Home. She
became involved in this initially during the
first summer after she retired, when she
substituted for two months as Activities
Director. Following that, she began on a
regular weekly basis as a volunteer helping
with Bingo games for the residents, and has
faithfully continued this activity (along with
her sister, Zelma Scott) for many years. Ruth
has remained in the Barnebey family home
in Mullen, keeping house for her father,
Charlie, until his death and continuing to
care for her brother Olin who lived there also
until he was moved to the Mullen Nursing
Home at 80 years of age.