December 3, 1940 - September 30, 2024

Ruth Lucille Ferris, 83, of Central City, died on Monday, September 30, 2024, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Lincoln. Her Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Community Bible Church in Central City with Rev. Dale Janzen officiating. Visitation will be on Friday, October 11, 2024, at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00 p.m. A private family burial will be held at Burke Cemetery near Central City.

Memorials are suggested to Nebraska Christian Schools, Merrick County Historical Museum, or Mission Heart. Condolences may be sent to the family at www. soltwagnerfuneral.com.

Ruth was born on December 3, 1940, near Thompson, to Joseph Henry and Irene Molly (Marcellus) Bishop. She spent a happy childhood on the family farm near Thompson, and graduated from Fairbury High School in 1958. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in 1962. She was united in marriage to David Ferris on June 3, 1962, at the Methodist Church in Fairbury. They moved to the Central City area, where she taught for one semester at Marquette before staying home to raise their growing family. In March 1971, Ruth trusted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, Who completely transformed her life.

Ruth served as a speech coach, school librarian, and teacher at Nebraska Christian High School. Ruth was very active in Merrick County and the Central City community, as a Friendship Club member, 4-H Club leader, census taker, and election poll worker. She invested much time, energy, and love to advance the mission of the Merrick County Historical Museum as a volunteer and member of the Museum Board. She served on the Merrick Foundation Board of Directors, volunteered with Mission Heart, and was very involved with her Community Bible Church Family.

Those left to cherish Ruth’s memory are her husband, David of Central City; her six children, Vonn Ferris of Omaha, Kirsten (Norb) Filian of Hoffman Estates, IL, Mary Jo (James) Vogel of Castle Pines, CO, Lei (Bruce) Williams of Belton, SC, Amy (Matthew) Gray of Huntington Beach, CA, and Emily Ferris of New Orleans, LA; her two brothers, Marvin Bishop of Rapid City, SD and Warren (Candi) Bishop of North Platte; her sister-in-law, Diane Bishop of Hermosa, SD, 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Darrell Bishop.