Ruth Marie (Eckermann) Barker was born on July 29, 1927, the third daughter of Henry Joseph & Raihildis Regina (Heinzlmeir) Eckermann in Buck Grove. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from the Saint Peter & Paul Catholic High School in Defiance in 1946. She then attended The College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Neb. for 1 year before she married Russell Robert Barker on July 3, 1947, at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, and to this union 13 children were born.
Ruth & Russell lived in Defiance until 1959, when they moved to Missouri Valley where 6 of their 13 children were born. Ruth was a great cook and loved to garden, bowl and attend local auctions. In the summer you could not get away from her without perusing her garden or admiring her flowerpots.
Ruth’s pride and joy though were her children who all grew to become successful adults. Her children Robert Barker, with an Associate’s Degree in Electronic’s & Microwave, who worked for Rockwell International and did testing on the B1 Bomber, David Barker who owned a Petroleum Equipment Repair Company, Marie Campbell who could decorate anything with a kind soul and big heart, Clifford Barker who was the best mechanic around, Rebecca Flint with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Deborah Waterhouse a Lead Test Engineer for CSG International, Airman, Andrew Barker who perished while serving our country in the United States Navy, Susan White with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, PollyAnna Shepard with an Associates in Accounting and owner of Shepard Enterprises for over 30 years, Jennifer Moe with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Minor in Project Management, Luke Barker with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Patricia Branstetter, Manager Brokerage Field Relations with Mutual of Omaha for 39 years and Lori Martin with a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, could not have made her prouder.
Ruth was a member of Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Missouri Valley where all her children attended the Catholic grade School until 1983 when the youngest graduated.
Ruth died on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at Azria Health Longview in Missouri Valley, at the age of 97 years, 10 months and 20 days.
Ruth was preceded in death by her mother in 1929 & father in 1968; husband, Russell Robert Barker in 2000; children, Andrew Russell Barker in 1977, Marie Cecele Campbell in 2015, Robert Andrew Barker in 2018, Clifford Donald Barker in 2021; sons-in-law, David Allen Campbell in 2001 & Marty Lee Shepard in 2022; grandchildren, Campbell Twins in 1973, Yvette Louise Mann in 1975 and Christopher Matthew Barker Branstetter in 1985; great-grandchild Maxwell Franklin Pope in 2000; sisters, Marsella Saraphina Allstot in 2007 and Lasilla Clara Stephenson in 2023. Those left to carry on her legacy are her children, David Henry (Sue) Barker of Blair, Neb., Rebecca Olive (Robert) Flint of Elkhorn, Neb., Deborah Louise (Lyle) Waterhouse of Missouri Valley, Susan Hilda (Roger) White of Camdenton, Mo., PollyAnna Shepard of Blair, Jennifer Lynn Moe of Riverside, Calif., Luke Joseph Barker of Omaha, Neb., Patricia Elaine (Michael) Branstetter of Magnolia and Lori Rae (Scott) Martin of Round Rock, Texas; 33 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday July 2, 2025, from 5-8 p.m. at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Missouri Valley with a prayer service at 7 p.m. and a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. on Thursday July 3, 2025, at the same church. Interment will be at Frazier Cemetery at a later date.
Arrangements made by Hennessey Funeral Home, Missouri Valley.
