Ruth Marie (Peikert) Maddox, age 90, took the hand of her Lord on July 4, 2026, while at her home in Plymouth, Minnesota.

Ruth was born during a winter snow storm on February 9, 1936, at the family home in Cokato, Minnesota, the youngest of four children born to Carl and Della (Prohl) Peikert. She was baptized, confirmed and married at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato.

Learning was very important to her as she was Valedictorian of Cokato’s graduating Class of 1954. Furthering her education, she went on to graduate with a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota in 1958, received an M. A. from California State University at Long Beach in 1969 and earned her Ed.D. from Brigham Young University in 1981. Her career as an English teacher began in 1958 at Rochester Junior High School, Rochester, Minnesota and continued at Lakewood High School, Lakewood California from 1961 to 1968. She went on to be a Professor of English at Cerro Coso Community College, Ridgecrest, California until retiring in 1994.

On April 3, 1966, Ruth was married to Arthur R. Maddox. Their years together were filled with many adventures while living in California. They enjoyed flying their small private plane to various destinations but she enjoyed most their flights back to Minnesota to see family and friends. Upon Art’s death in 1993, she returned to Minnesota making her home in Plymouth.

Ruth was a quintessential lady being active in her church, community, book clubs, yoga classes, mahjong group and serving as a guardian ad litem. She was an avid reader and instilled that joy of reading in her family with the gift of a book every Christmas followed by a planned gathering time to review and discuss what that book meant to them. She was always teaching and always learning.

In retirement she traveled around the world visiting popular and remote countries. She enjoyed attending plays at the Guthrie Theater especially when family and friends would join her.

Ruth is survived by her brother Carl (Jean) Peikert, sister Ann Birkholz; nieces and nephews, Carl Jr. (Gail) Peikert, Johann (Karen) Peikert, Viann (Alan) Montgomery, Larae (Terry) Ostgulen, Greg (Cathy) Birkholz, Mark (Judy) Birkholz, Jon (Kristi) Grussendorf, Steven (Robin) Grussendorf, Brian (Amy) Grussendorf; Kenneth Hanks; nineteen great nieces and nephews and an ever-increasing number of great-great and great-great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur; parents Carl and Della Peikert; sister Elaine Grussendorf; brothers-in-law Wesley Grussendorf and Virgil Birkholz; and sister-in-law Kathleen Hanks-Getchell.

Memorial service will be held Friday, July 10 at 2:00 PM at Saint Phillip the Deacon Lutheran Church, 17205 County Road 6, Plymouth, Minnesota with visitation one hour prior to the service.