Ruth Graves

To Ruth Graves, life wasnt about accolades, accomplishments, or the acquisition of material wealth, but about the relationships she fostered with her beloved family and the legacy she would one day leave behind. Ruth was an extraordinary woman with a tender heart and compassionate spirit who framed her every thought, her every word, and her every deed around the Christian beliefs that were engraved upon her heart. Ruth viewed each day as a precious gift and embraced both the peaks and valleys along lifes journey. The early 1920s were a time of growing prosperity for our nation as we were enjoying the transition to peace with the end of WWI and people were ready to kick back and have a good time. Flappers and speakeasies exploded onto the scene and the smooth sounds of jazz floated out of the doors of clubs nationwide. Herman and Tena (Hanekamp) Berkel, of Muskegon, Michigan were celebrating the birth of their healthy daughter on November 26, 1921. They named their new bundle of joy Ruth and she grew up as one of six children in her family. The Berkel children were cared for by their mother while their father worked as a foreman at CWC. Ruth experienced the fabulous cooking of her mother and a love for cooking was born in Ruth which would follow her the rest of her days. From her father, Ruth inherited a strong work ethic along with a propensity of sheer determination. By the end of the 1920s, our nation had become gripped by the Great Depression, affecting countless families nationwide and Ruths family was no exception. Like so many other children of this era, Ruth and her siblings went to work at a young age in order to help make ends meet. Due to her strict religious upbringing, Ruths childhood desire to dance was not allowed to come to fruition, but several years down the road, her dream was fulfilled through her daughters participation in dance for several years. After graduating from Muskegon High School in 1940, Ruth was in store for greater changes as she was introduced to a man who would forever change the course of Ruths life. His name was Dwight Branstrom and he worked with her at his fathers ice cream shop. It didnt take long before a romance had blossomed and the two were soon united in marriage, in 1941. They were later blessed with the birth of four children: Robert, Debra Lyn, Larry, and Linda, who tragically died at birth. Ruth immersed herself in her role as a mother and her children were her top priority. She was loving, caring, nurturing, and supportive and she was always accepting of them just as they were. Ruth filled her children with many precious memories during their formative years which they will forever cherish. She always tenderly prepared healthy meals for her family, a way in which she illustrated her love for them, and meals were always time for being together. They had picnics, visited together, and just cherished spending time together. Ruth always had a way of making each family member feel loved in their own unique way. Life changed drastically for Ruth when her husband, Dwight, died in 1963. This left Ruth to enter the work force and she found employment as a bookkeeper at Muskegon Barber & Beauty Supply where she worked for 20 years. This job was a great fit for Ruth as she utilized her organizational skills and also delighted in working with people. Ruth was blessed to find love for a second time with a man who lived across the street from her home on Hampden Rd. His name was James M. Graves Sr. and they were married in 1977. When grandchildren arrived, Ruth embraced them as she had her own children and she spent as much time with them as she could. During her retirement years, she enjoyed taking care of her granddaughters, Tami and Trisha. Ruth drove them to and from school, attended their sporting events and cooked for them, of course! When she was blessed with great granddaughters, Ruth felt truly blessed and she called them her sunshine. She rocked them as babies and as they grew older, she played and colored with them and taught them their letters and numbers too. Playing cards together quickly became a favorite activity and they especially loved playing High One Takes. Ruth was always patient and fair with the girls and no one ever felt jilted when it came to being with Ruth. In addition to caring for her family, Ruth also loved traveling to see her sister, Viola, in Phoenix and her sister, Roberta, in Mississippi too. She had a close friendship with Johanna Vanderwier and together they attended the Berean Church. Ruth also loved butterflies and sending cards to stay in touch with loved ones and she never missed recognizing a holiday or birthday. She enjoyed bowling, knitting, bridge, word searches, and singing. Faith was an important cornerstone in Ruths life and her relationship with God greatly enriched her life. Ruths family will forever cherish a gathering earlier this month when Ruth left her current home at Sanctuary at McAuley, to visit her apartment where she was surrounded by her family. Together they ate BBQ and cupcakes, and Ruth played cards with her great granddaughters. Ruth was truly in her glory in her previous home surrounded by her loving family. Ruth was thankful for her son Bob who aided her in many ways and although she was separated from her son Larry by many miles, her heart was always connected to his. Ruth Graves possessed a sweet nature that drew others to her and she always made everyone feel that they were the most important person in the world to her. She felt she lived a fulfilling life and as a woman of great faith, she professed that she was ready to go home whenever God called her. It was no secret that she viewed her family as her greatest blessing and she touched the lives of all who were placed in her path. Ruth leaves behind a legacy of faith and love that will surely stand the test of time. She will be dearly missed. Ruth M. Graves died on Thursday, April 16, 2009 surrounded by her loving family. Ruths family includes her husband, James; children, Robert Branstrom of Muskegon, Debra Lyn (Ron) Tufts of Muskegon, Larry Branstrom of Ypsilanti; adoring grandchildren, Tami (Nancy Nyblade) Tufts of Muskegon, Trisha (Larry ) Musk of Muskegon; great grandchildren, Marissa, Jillian, Alexa Musk; brother, Charles Berkel of KS; sisters, Roberta Rudd, Hazel Whittaker; several nieces & nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Kenny & Richard; sister, Viola. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009, 3:00 p.m. at Clock Chapel with Julie Winklepleck officiating. Visit with Ruths family and friends on Saturday, 1 hour prior to the services at Clock Life Story Funeral Homes Muskegon location Muskegon, MI. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to McAuley Place.