Ruth M. ‘Ruthie’ Bins, 101, of Crystal City died Jan. 11, 2024, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mrs. Bins will be remembered as a lively and happy lady with a big heart. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A woman of faith, she was a 77-year member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crystal City, where she played the piano for the Sunday School and Vacation Bible School when her children were young. She also became involved with the Women’s Group, many Bible study groups and served on the Finance Board for more than 30 years. She and her husband, Clifford, loved to travel. Sometimes it was just a Sunday afternoon drive to a favorite restaurant to many trips with friends to Branson, Army reunions all over the United States and trips to Europe to see the Dutch Halmans Family. As she got older, she remained the designated driver for her and her friends. One of her favorite hobbies was bird watching. She especially loved cardinals and hummingbirds. For the last four years, she lived at Autumn Ridge Retirement Center in Herculaneum and was always busy with the afternoon activities. She became the “valentine queen” one year at the annual valentine banquet. Even through her one hundred first year, you would often find her in the evening reading to friends who were visually impaired. Born March 23, 1922, in St. Louis, she was the daughter of the late Josephine (Stempfle) and Emil Carl Lippmann.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Clifford James Bins.
She is survived by a son: Kenneth (Myra Ann) Bins of Festus; a daughter: Janet (Gary) Schaefer of De Soto; five granddaughters: Llonda (Chris) Bins-Lohman, Melissa (Lloyd) Boyer, Bethany (Michael) Begin, Heather Weinhaus and Jennifer Hall; and seven great-grandchildren: Clayton (Trinity) Hall, Jackson Hall, Collin Weinhaus, Mason Weinhaus, Ethan Boyer, Riley Boyer and Molly Begin.
She also was preceded in death two brothers: Carl E. (the late Blanche) Lippmann and Elmer F. (the late Margaret) Lippmann; and a great-grandson: Alexander Boyer.
Visitation is scheduled from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. An additional visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. until funeral services at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 221 Brierton Lane, in Crystal City, officiated by Pastor Kyle Castens and assisted by the Rev. Gary Brandt of Lake Ozark. Burial will follow in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church Renovation Fund or the Autumn Ridge Chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.