Ruth M. Belter

LAKEVILLE — Ruth M. Belter, 88, of Lakeville passed away on July 7, 2018 at Hartford Hospital with family members by her side. She was the widow of Willis H. Belter Sr.

Ruth was born June 30, 1930, to Dorothy (Perkins) and Harold C. Miner at Sharon Hospital. She was a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

She fell in love with a neighboring farmer, Willis H. Belter, whom she married on Oct. 5, 1949.

Ruth had many things that brought her joy but the greatest was that of being a farmer’s wife. She loved bringing lunches to the hay fields, taking the calves to the auction and running out for farm parts. Other things that brought her joy were her knitting, writing letters, riding around the valley on her scooter, and nature and camping trips to Vermont. 

During her free time when she wasn’t taking care of her grandchildren, she volunteered in the community. She could be found helping a student to read at Salisbury Central School and leading Girl Scout trips.

She worked as a relief mail carrier in Lakeville.

Ruth is survived by her five children, Willis H. “Hoot” Belter Jr. and his wife, Jo Ellen, of Lakeville, Betsy Beni and her husband, Nick, of Longmont, Colo., Andy Belter and his partner, Holly Leibrock, of Lakeville, Meg Steven and her husband, Michael, of Bethel, Maine, and Trudy Rottino and her husband, Daniel, of East Haddam, Conn.; her grandchildren, Daniel Belter and his wife, Monica, and two great-grandchildren, Mia and Aria of Norwalk, Conn., Abbey Belter of Albany, N.Y., Tanya Beni of Great Barrington, Nick Beni III and his fiancée, Laura Roth, of Longmont, Kristin Beaujon and her husband, Tyler, of North Canaan, Jake Belter of Lakeville, Ellie Belter of Yonkers, N.Y., Aly Mitchell and her husband, Josh, of Cushing, Maine, Jamie Steven and significant other Ryan Hall of Boston, Mass., Willis Steven of Bethel, Maine, Emily Rottino and Danny Rottino of East Haddam, Conn.

She was predeceased by her husband, Willis H. Belter; and grandson Geoffrey Belter. 

In keeping with Ruth’s wishes there will not be calling hours or a public service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s memory may be made to the Salisbury Ambulance.

Arrangements are under the care of the Newkirk Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan.