Ruth C. (Norlin) Goodrich

Ruth Christine (Norlin) Goodrich was the only living daughter of Carl Curtis and Francis (Carlson) Norlin. She was born on July 28, 1944, in Chadron, NE and passed away on September 16, 2022, at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth, NE. Ruth was the daughter of a Methodist minister and was baptized at the Chadron Methodist Church on October 22, 1944, by her grandfather, Charles Norlin, also a Methodist minister. Dorothy Norlin, a cousin, joined the family in the fall of 1945, until they moved to Springview, NE. During this time, they lived in Hemingford, NE from June of 1947, to Mullen, NE in June of 1949, where Ruth started school at the Mullen Elementary School. In June 1953, the family moved to Springview where they remained until Ruth graduated from the Keya Paha County High School in May 1962. After graduation Ruth attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, where she majored in math and was a member of the Nebraska Wesleyan choir. After completing one year of college, Ruth returned to Springview to marry her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Mick Goodrich, on December 14, 1963. Mick and Ruth became owners of a ranch located south of Springview near the Niobrara River, where they worked together taking care of cattle and raising a family until 1982. They then moved their family to Ainsworth. Ruth dedicated much of her professional life to Ainsworth’s ASCS/FSA office, where she helped farmers and ranchers traverse government programs and was the loan officer. During her time in her career, she made many lifetime friends and relationships with clients and co-workers. After retiring from the FSA Ruth decided to use her love and talent for crafts and sewing, with the help of some very special friends, she opened Quilts & Crafts located in Long Pine, NE.
Ruth was an active member of the community as a 4-H leader for the Busy Bees 4-H club in Keya Paha County. She was also involved in Extension Club and Extension 4-H Board in Keya Paha County and enjoyed being part of the High School Alumni Association. Ruth was a very active member of the United Methodist Church, where she helped with Vacation Bible school, Sunday School, and her favorite, a member of the Choir. Ruth was very involved with Eastern Star and was initiated on April 5, 1988. She held many offices, which included: Associate Conductress 1989, Conductress 1990, Associate Matron 1991, Worthy Matron 1992, Treasurer 1993-2006, Associate Conductress 2007-2009, Conductress 2010-2011, Chaplain 2012-2014, Marshal 2015-2019, and Warder 2020-2021.
In 1995, Ruth and her husband moved to a property outside of Long Pine, where she became an active member of the Long Pine community. She was a member of Lamplighters, Long Pine Chamber of Commerce, Long Pine Heritage Society, and spent several years at the Long Pine Cemetery Sexton.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Mick Goodrich of Long Pine; her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Phil Brown of Long Pine; son and daughter-in-law, Mark, and Susan Goodrich of Austin, TX; daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Tim Weber of Purdum, NE and her four granddaughters: Kathleen Brown, Jennifer Brown, Leah Goodrich, and Taylor Weber.

A Memorial Service was held on Monday, October 3, 2022 at the Ainsworth United Methodist Church with Pastor Martin Leeper officiating at the service. Music was provided by Sherry Campbell with the UMC Choir singing “Beulah Land/Until Then” Medley and Lisa Wiebesiek singing “Que, Sera, Sera.” Organizational Rites were conducted by Bethany Chapter #113 Order of Eastern Star. A Private Family Inurnment followed in the Mt. Hope Cemetery at Springview, NE next to her parents. Memorials were suggested to the Ainsworth Eastern Star Chapter in Ruth’s memory. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth assisted with the arrangements.