Ruth Barbara Kramer

MIDLAND, MICHIGAN - Our sweet 103 year old mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Ruth Barbara Kramer passed away peacefully at home in Midland, MI on Saturday, May 28, 2016. Ruth Barbara Buschert, an only child, was born to the late Stafford Raydore and Chettel (Caw) Buschert on April 1, 1913 in Rapid City, Michigan where her father was a railroad station agent. As a young girl she moved with her mother to Traverse City, where she attended Traverse City High School, graduating in 1930. She attended Michigan State College, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Biology in 1934. She worked as a medical technologist first at Women’s Hospital and McLaren Hospital in Flint, Michigan and then later in Traverse City where she worked for Munson Hospital along with several medical offices, ending her career at the Beaumont Medical Building in 1978. She married Arthur A. Kramer in Flint on October 30, 1938. They shared 62 years together until Arthur’s death, always working as a team. While in Flint they owned Kramer’s Mobil Oil Service Station and drive-in restaurant. In 1952, they sold their business and bought a cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula, first named Cherry Chick Farm, later re-named “Kramer’s” farm. There they also grew pick your own strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries and for many years had a chicken business producing local eggs and commercial pullets. In 1982, after the death of their youngest son due to a drunk driver, Ruth worked tirelessly to begin a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) chapter in Traverse City and devoted many hours to making that happen. She was an important contributor in toughening drunk driving laws and implementing crime victim rights in Michigan law and the state constitution. She was also involved in Farm Bureau activities contributing efforts to see that cherries were seen as an important product in the community. She was a member of Archie Junior Women’s Club on Old Mission Peninsula, Eastern Star, and Central United Methodist Church for over 50 years. Left to mourn and miss her are her two daughters, Barbara Dee Fisher and Bethany (Charles) Goodman, both of Midland and her son, Arno (Jill) Kramer of Traverse City. She is also survived by her much loved grandchildren, Brian Fisher, Anne Fisher (Kurt) Doelle, Jane Goodman (Mark) Garrett, Sonya Goodman (Donovan) Farr, Noel (Rachel) Goodman, Nick (Abigail) Goodman, Jodi Kramer (Terry) Murphy, Jacob Kramer, Izaak (Julie) Kramer, Ian (Kimberly) Kramer, Chelsea Kramer (Rob) Herrema, and Chantelle Kramer. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Wyatt, Danielle, Leia, Margret and Walter, Elijah and Hannah, Taw, Annika, Abraham, Patrick, and Glendon, Emery and Mara, Millie and Arthur. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband Arthur in 2000, and son Douglas in 1982. A service celebrating Ruth’s long life will take place on Saturday, June 18 at 11:00am at Central United Methodist Church, 222 Cass Street, Traverse City. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Ogdensburg Cemetery on Old Mission Peninsula. Memorial contributions in Ruth’s name may be directed to Central United Methodist Church, Traverse City, Seasons Adult Day Health Services, Midland, or Heartland Hospice, Bay City, Michigan. Please share your memories and thoughts on her online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com The family is being cared for by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Ruth Barbara Kramer

April 1, 1913 - May 28, 2016