IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
Margaret Hein
A celebration of life was held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Eastmoor United Methodist Church for Margaret Louise (Ruby) Hein, who passed away on Nov. 1, 2022, at age 96.
Margaret was born on June 16, 1926 in Marion, the fifth child of Walter and Wilhelmina (Remmers) Ruby.
There were eight children, all of whom preceded her in death: Catherine Hein, Joe Ruby, Fred Ruby, Art Ruby, Annabelle Gaffney, Lucille Weyer, and Ralph Ruby.
Margaret went to one-room Pleasant Valley School for the first eight years. The summer before high school, she began working outside the home. She worked for several families, doing child care, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and ironing. In those days, this was quite a chore because you had to fill the iron with kerosene and pump air into it, and it was very heavy.
Margaret attended Marion High School, graduating in 1944. During her high school years, she worked several jobs, including at J. C. Penney Co. and then Seymour Packing Company, both in Marion. She worked as a bookkeeper. After this, she worked at the Tip Top Creamery in Hillsboro.
She used to go to the Marion skating rink, where she met Edward Ray Hein. Margaret grew up Catholic, and Edward was Mennonite.
This was an obstacle to deal with for both families, and after several years of dating and being very sure of their love for each other, they eventually married in the Evangelical United Brethern Church in Marion, now Eastmoor United Methodist, on Aug. 10, 1948.
They became members and were very active in the church for nearly 73 years.
She was a Sunday school teacher and also taught Bible school for many years. She later served on the kitchen committee.
Active as a farm wife, Margaret worked side-by-side with Ed. They did outside jobs to supplement farm income in their early years. During this time, they started a family, and three children were born in just more than three years; Karen, Janet, and Dean.
Margaret kept very busy on the farm but was also active in Extension Homemaker Units. As the girls entered college, she took a job as a cook at Tabor College, where she worked for about 10 years. She enjoyed this work and made many friends there.
Everyone enjoyed Margaret’s cooking from family and friends to hired hands. She was host for many large family dinners, and even hosted these into her 90s. They had lots of friends they got together with frequently, playing cards or games, or having picnics or outings together.
The family took time out for a vacation every summer, and later Margaret and Ed took bus tours, which produced lasting friendships.
They celebrated milestone anniversaries by taking the family on trips, creating many fond memories with children and grandchildren. Margaret adored her grandchildren, and they all adored her too.
A highlight of their years together was building a new home on their farm in 1980. In March 2018, they moved off their beloved farm into Parkside Assisted Living. Margaret made friends wherever she went, and she loved reaching out to others and visiting with anyone who stopped by.
On July 22, 2021, Ed passed away. Shortly after this, Margaret developed health issues, with frequent falls and cancer returning. Margaret continued living in their apartment until her passing.
She had wonderful caregivers with Traditions Health and Parkside Assisted Living staff. They took such good care of her, and it was apparent they cared for her as much as she cared for them. The family would like to thank them all for their wonderful care, which was so appreciated.
Margaret is survived by her daughters Karen (and husband Greg) Jaworsky of Newton and Jan (and husband James) Britton of Denver and son Dean (and wife Beth) Hein of Hillsboro. Grandchildren include Brian and Amanda Jaworsky, Hillsboro; Mike and Staci Morales, Hillsboro; Jenni and David Josselyn, Colorado; Jeff Britton, Colorado; Jared and Taryn Britton, Utah; Erin and Mike Mader, Hillsboro; Justin Hein, Manhattan; Christy Hein, Newton. She also is survived by 15 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association or to Traditions Health in care of Jost Funeral Home, PO Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063.