Ruth Elise’s Obituary Ruth Elise Schiebel Hall (82) of St. Peter, died in hospice care at Benedictine Health Services on March 1, 2019. Ruth, born in Washington, D.C. on January 25, 1937, was the daughter of Rev. William August Schiebel and Clara Sophia Brandt Schiebel, both of Nicollet County, MN.
She was raised in downtown D.C, six blocks from the White House. An accomplished musician – cello and organ – she became organist at her father’s church – Mount Olivet Lutheran Church at age 18. She graduated from McKinley Tech High School in 1954 and attended Wilson Teachers College before marrying Vernon William (Bill) Weidner in 1958.
They had four children: Mary, Paul, Philip and John and lived in Alexandria, Virginia before moving to Ormond Beach, FL in 1968. In Florida, Ruth continued as a church musician/choir director and became a children’s librarian, which she described as her dream job. She joined the Sweet Adelines Women’s Barbershop Chorus and continued a member until her death.
Over the years Ruth visited every state except Rhode Island. She also visited Israel with her pastor father, Germany with childhood associates, Finland to visit an exchanged student she had hosted in Florida, and Poland with her current husband. In 2005, after living in Florida for 37 years, Ruth moved to Minnesota which she had visited frequently with her parents and her children over the years.
She was welcomed by dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins and their children. She continued as a church organist and provided piano instruction. She joined the Minnesota Valley Chorus Sweet Adelines.
She was an accomplished seamstress and quilter and a member of the Ewenique Quilt Guild of St. Peter. A frequent exhibitor at county fairs and quilt shows, she was often awarded ribbons for her work. In 2011 she married John Hall, Sr. whom she had dated briefly during and after high school.
They went their separate ways for 55 years before reuniting and marrying. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her brother David and his wife Phyllis, by her aunt Millie Brandt, uncles Theodore (Ted) and William (Billy) Brandt and her cousin Oliver Compart. She is remembered by her children: Mary Elise Durham (Matt), Paul William Weidner (Karen), Philip Edward Weidner, and John Mark Weidner (Deb), by eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren and by her first husband Bill Weidner (Heidi).
She is also remembered by John Hall, Sr. and by her three step-children and six step-grandchildren. Others with fond remembrances include her aunt Mary Brandi, cousins Doris Ann Kaduce (Myron), Donna May Harder and Linda Theissen (Mike) and numerous other relatives from the Brandt, Schiebel, Compart and related families. Following the example of her parents, brother and sister-in-law, Ruth dedicated her body to medical science.
A memorial service will be 11:00 am Saturday, March 23rd at First Lutheran Church, St. Peter. Visitation is 4:00-7:00 pm Friday, March 22nd and also at 9:30am Saturday all at the church. Memorials are suggested to Minnesota Valley Chorus Sweet Adelines, Ewenique Quilt Guild, First Lutheran Church, St. Peter Area Food Shelf or your favorite charity.
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