Vada Ladean Unruh was born to Sam I. and Agnes (Smith) Unruh on February 19, 1932, in a small country home near Copeland. She was the fifth child of her parent's 11 children. She went to her reward on September 16, 2022, at Bethel Home in Montezuma, reaching the age of 90 years.
Vada grew up in Haskell County and received her education at Colusa School. Many were the days that her and her siblings walked home from school with her cousins joining part way. At the age of 12, Vada felt the call of God and was baptized December 12, 1944, by Minister F.C. Fricke. Her faith brought her through life's challenges and it was her sincere desire to remain faithful until the end.
Vada helped her parents on the farm. She helped her mother with washing, making soap, and other house chores. During the war and with her older brothers in 1-W service, she become her dad's hired hand. She learned to operate the farm equipment, not always successfully at first. Despite this, Vada loved to farm.
Singing played a big part in her life. She would sing while driving the tractor and most every night she would sing with her sisters into the wee hours of the morning. She also loved to sing with her youth friends.
Later in life, Vada began working outside the home. She helped her sister and brother-in-law in their country store for nine years. From there, she took a job as a caregiver for an elderly lady in Garden City. Her caring heart reached out to others in need. She would much rather have been a giver than a receiver. As time went on, it found her at St. Catherine Hospital working in medical records for 22 years.
Life went on but seemed a bit empty. Her dad invited a widower with four children, Melvin Unruh, for Sunday dinner. She knew that this was what the Lord had in mind for her. She and Melvin were married in 1985 and shared 13 wonderful years together. It gave her such a security and sense of belonging. This fulfillment made her very happy. Many fond memories were shared together in travels to California and to Canada. Vada loved family life. Her loving husband passed away rather suddenly and she felt such a loss but was thankful God gave them a few short years together.
She later entered Bethel Home where she received excellent care for several years.
Those left to cherish the memories are her siblings, Maxine and Eldon Schmidt, Sylvia and Delton Wedel, Eugene and Janice Unruh, Jeanette and Devern Nightengale, and Sam and Jan Unruh all of Montezuma; Melvin's family, Les and Linda Unruh of Copeland, Gloria and Milton Arnold of Pierceville, Marilyn and Daymon Yost of Sublette, and Maynard Unruh of Oakley. Her many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews all also meant so much to her. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Melvin; her parents; two brothers, Cecil and Louis Unruh; three sisters, Luella Koehn, Juanita Nightengale, and Shirley Unruh; brothers-in-law, Obed Koehn and Ervin Nightengale; sisters-in-law, Ruby Unruh, Elizabeth Unruh, and Ruby R.Unruh; and a step granddaughter, Rosalyn Arnold.
Funeral service will be held at Salem Mennonite Church on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at 10:30 AM with Ministers Ryan Nightengale, Steve Unruh, and Stan Smith presiding. Burial will follow at Salem Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma on Monday, September 19, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 P.M.
Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.