Butt, Ruth Marie (Died)

The Butt family wishes to announce the peaceful passing of Ruth at her home in London, on December 15, 2023, in her 97th year. She was surrounded, in body and in spirit, by family and loved ones who gathered from near and far to help send her off.

If ever there was a Matriarch, it was Ruth. She was a dedicated wife and partner to our father, Dr. Bill Butt. She was a Mother of eight. A Grandmother. A Great-Grandmother. An Aunt. A Great-Aunt. A Great-Great-Aunt. A Laughing Spirit. A Treasured Friend and Inspiration to so many. In addition to her tireless career as a Mother, Ruth was called to become a United Church Minister and Couples Counsellor for her second and third careers. With a long-time presence in Woodstock and Oxford County, Ruth served her community in multiple roles as a volunteer, and was a leader in many community organizations. In her final years, Ruth was fortunate to be able to have quiet influence as a philanthropist, where she contributed in support of many charities dear to her heart. In recognition of her devotion to the importance of soil health, a value nurtured since her childhood roots on the Saskatchewan prairie, Ruth was inducted into the Order of the Ontario Agricultural College in 2020. A neighbour and supporter of Canada's Outdoor Farm Show (COFS), her legacy lives on in support of the grassroots initiatives of the Soil Champions Committee, a task force she helped foster through COFS, and create through the Soil Conservation Council of Canada.

Ruth treasured a needlework that had been made for her by one whose life she had touched. "Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same." Ruth, indeed, left her footprints in the soil and on the hearts of many. Godspeed Mom.

A Celebration of Life will be announced for a date in the New Year.