March 2, 1932 - December 22, 2024
We are sad to share that Ruth, aged 92, has left us to be with God after suffering a stroke. Her parents were Eunice Studer and Isidore Mousel. She was born in Wesley and grew up in Bancroft where she attended St. John’s High School and enjoyed singing in the operettas. Ruth attended St. Catherine’s Nursing School in Omaha where she met Leo Leonelli, a medical student at Creighton University. They were married at St. John’s in 1953. Ruth and Leo enjoyed 58 years of marriage until his death in 2011. They had four sons and four daughters, and lived in Southern California for most of their lives.
Ruth loved musicals, art, reading and travel all her life. She was a caring, generous friend to many. She is predeceased by her mother, father and stepfather Roman Ricke, her sisters Mary (Ray Olberding) and Ethel (Charles Ingalls) and brothers Donald Ricke and James Ricke (Helen), as well as her son David Leonelli (2013) and daughter Mia McNamee (2022). She is survived by daughters Laura, Lisa (Mark Gallego) and Melinda (Steve Batty) and sons Steve (Janet), Daniel (Nella) and Mark (Elizabeth) Leonelli, as well as 23 loving grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.