RUTH V. BERNDT

Ruth V. Berndt, 87, very peacefully slipped into her Heavenly Father’s arms at home with family by her side on October 7, 2017.

Ruthie will be greatly missed by her daughter and son-in-law, Debby (Berndt) Walker and Mike Walker, her son John, and her grandchildren Steven Walker, Jenna (Berndt) Thompson, Jesse Berndt and Brianna (Breezie) Berndt.

Born on April 18, 1930 to Dave and Katie (Kammerer) Weigum in Lodi, Ruthie first lived in Victor. At the age of seven, her family moved to a new home built by her father in Lodi where Ruthie attended Needham School. She lettered on the Tumbling Team for Lodi High School, graduating in 1948. She then attended the College of the Pacific where she studied home economics for two years. She married Harvey Berndt of Lodi on his birthday July 14, 1950 in Lodi, and, by the time of his passing in 2016, they had celebrated 65 years together. In the early years, she and Harvey grew grapes, peaches and plums, but as the years passed, grapes became their sole crop.

Ruthie was very creative. She drew the floor plans for their home in Lodi as well as their cabin at Lake Tahoe. She enjoyed gardening and worked part-time at Weigum’s Nursery where she especially enjoyed accompanying Lee Ann Weigum on her shopping trips to San Francisco. Ruthie was a member of First Baptist Church and, in 1948, became a charter member of Temple Baptist Church. Along with her dedicated team, she spent many hours decorating her church with flower arrangements for special occasions and holidays. She sang in the church choir for several years. Ruthie was an active person, spending time with her family and friends waterskiing, snow skiing, and attending aerobics classes. Ruthie really enjoyed watching sports, especially basketball, on television. Ruthie and Harvey went on many cruises and traveled to various destinations, including Europe, Alaska, and, numerous times, Branson, Missouri for the country music.

Her family is most grateful for the loving care provided her by the staff at Vienna Rehabilitation, AceraCare, and Leah Jazmin, her primary caregiver for over a year.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am on October 26 at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi. It will be followed by a “Celebration of Life” at 11:00 at Temple Baptist Church, 801 S. Lower Sacramento Road in Lodi. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruthie’s memory may be made to Fifty5Five (www.fifty5five.com) or Temple Baptist Church.

Please sign the guest book at www.lodinews.com/guestbook.