Ruth Anita Weller, 94, passed away April 4, 2025, at Brookdale Senior Living, Great Bend, Kan. She was born on Oct. 10, 1930, in Bern, Kan., to Glen and Ola (Miller) Platt. On May 23, 1950, she married Ralph E. Weller in Laclede, Kan. He passed away on Aug. 12, 2004, after 54 years of marriage.

Ruth grew up in Onaga and graduated from Onaga High School with the class of 1948. Following her graduation, she worked as a waitress at a café in Onaga until Mr. Art Wentz hired her as a bookkeeper for his Ford car and tractor dealership, where she worked until her marriage. After marrying Ralph, the newlyweds moved frequently living in Natoma, Paradise, Lyons, Pratt, Kinsley, Dodge City, Cimarron, and Washington in Kansas, and Wheeler, Quanah and Amarillo in Texas. In 1961, they moved to Great Bend where Ralph started Midwest Machinery. Years after the start of Ralph’s business Ruth started her own business endeavor opening the Private Collection Antique Shop with her daughter Becky.  

Ruth loved travel and the arts and throughout her life was a member of the Wet and Dry Route Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association, the Golden Belt Community Concert Association, Great Bend Community Theatre, and the Kansas Historical Foundation. Ruth enjoyed staying connected with her hometown and was a subscriber and supporter of The Onaga Herald, reading it front to back every week.  

Survivors include daughter, Becky Weller of Great Bend; son, David Weller of Great Bend; grandchildren, Machaela Whelan and husband David Norlin of Overland Park, Kinnat Whelan of Lawrence, Jeremey Weller and wife Brooke of Great Bend, and her beautiful great granddaughter Natalie. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband; parents; son-in-law, Mike Whelan; brothers, Paul, Delbert, and Bill Platt; and sisters-in-law, Joye Platt and Shirley Platt. 

Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2025, at Bryant Funeral Home with Chaplain Jeffrey Owen presiding. Interment will follow at Mt. Herman Cemetery, Paradise, Kan. Visitation will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials have been designated to the Santa Fe Trail Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Rd.

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 8, 2025