Ruth Bockhop

Ruth Ann Bockhop of Belmont, WI, age 82, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior and reunited with her husband, Leo, on October 21, 2021 at Our House Assisted Living in Platteville, WI. Memorial services will be at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville. Pastor Stephen Troester will be officiating the service. Burial will be at the Belmont Cemetery. Friends may call on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ruth A. Bockhop Memorial Fund. The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Ruth was born on August 16, 1939 in Rewey, WI, daughter of Purl and Gertrude (Crase) Jenkins and later, the five-year old adopted daughter of Earl and Mildred (Reddy) Crase. After graduating from Belmont High School in 1957, she attended Madison Business College and graduated with a bookkeeping degree. She was united in marriage to her soul mate, Leo Lawrence Bockhop on September 11, 1959 at Peace Lutheran Church in Belmont. Leo and Ruth raised five children – Alice, Roger, Julie, Mary, and Lisa. Ruth worked for Findorf Construction, Jenny Brothers Creamery, Ding's Grocery Store, Red's Supper Club, and cleaned the Mound City Bank lobby and offices after-hours before she and Leo decided to start farming full time. She was also a past Treasurer for the Town of Belmont, a past member of the Belmont Ambulance Service and the former Belmont Cemetery Association, and a past Poll Worker & Planning Commission member for the Town of Kendall. After retiring from farming in 1995, Ruth worked for Lands' End many years in the core and hemming departments before permanently retiring. Through the years, Ruth enjoyed raising her children and attending her children's, grandchildren's, and great-grandchildren's school events, bowling, camping, playing cards, playing bean bag, tossing horse shoes, dancing, and taking bus trips to Branson. Through the years, she was a Belmont Brave, Oak Creek Knight, Stoughton Viking, Mineral Point Pointer, Iowa-Grant Panther, Badger, Packer, and Brewer fan. Later in life, she and Leo enjoyed dining and socializing at the SUN meal site in Belmont before they moved to assisted living in Platteville in 2018. Ruth was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Belmont, but also enjoyed attending services at Cowboy Country Church in Mineral Point. Ruth was a generous loving woman who was a devoted wife and mother and loved spending time with her family and many friends. She had a big heart of gold and was always willing to help anyone anywhere if she was able with no questions asked.

Ruth is survived by her children Alice (Joe) Gilman, Roger (Kathy) Bockhop, Julie (Butch) Speth, Mary (Dale) Bahr, and Lisa (Neal) Thomas; Grandchildren Katie (Travis) Grooters, Dan (Caitlin) Joestgen, Phylesia (Brandon) Kirkpatrick, Jessica (Brian) Schwoerer, Josh Bockhop, Olivia Krahn-Bockhop, Hannah (Matt Kuehn) & Jake Haase, Jenny (Marcus) Geishert, Tom (Amanda) Speth, Reba (Jamie) Tranel, Jon Bahr (Brea Brugger), Erik & Andrea Kieler (Jamie Madl), Troy (Suzy), Seth, Chad & Ryan Thomas; Great-Grandchildren Tyler & Ella Grooters, Henry Joestgen, Bryce Bockhop, Kolton, Remi, & Haisley Schwoerer, Barrett & Baby Geishert (Apr), Eli & Nora Tranel, and Lloyd & Baby Thomas (Nov); many nieces and nephews; Sister Lynn (Sigmund) Hoel; Brothers Bobby (Kathy) Jenkins and Gary (Laura) Jenkins; Sisters-in-Law Kitty Crase and Elaine Crase; and Brother-in-law David (Linda) Bockhop. Ruth is preceded in death by Leo (August 12, 2021), her parents and brothers Paul Crase, Robert Crase, James Crase, Frank Jenkins, Gerald Avery, Allen Jenkins, Larry Jenkins, Greg Jenkins, and Ronnie Jenkins.

Special “Thank You” to the caring staffs of Our House Assisted Living & Agrace Hospice, Dr. White, and the Medical Associates staff.