Memories of Ruthnan Miller Bigelow

In memory of

Ruthnan Miller Bigelow

North Las Vegas, NV, USA

October 1, 1928 - January 10, 2020

Oct 1, 1928 - Jan 10, 2020

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Hector Ramírez

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Hector Ramírez

Ruthnan with forever be in my heart . I lived the last 20 years in Las Vegas with her and her husband lee. Changed my life in every way . Very much miss and never forgotten ❤️🥺

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Bill and Amanda W

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Kimberly Moon

2019, North Las Vegas, NV, USA

Oh my heart aches that you are no longer here to tell your exciting stories. I am at peace knowing you are no longer in pain. Laying in that bed in NLV was something you did not deserve. What an amazing woman you are. I know you are here in spirit, I look forward to seeing you in a different realm. I love you.

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George Stamos

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Ruthnan Bigelow was one of the most remarkable and courageous people I have ever known. In her later years, even though she was going blind and was physically incapacitated, she never lost her sense of humor, her curiosity, and her willingness to help other people. To the end, she was cheerful, upbeat, and positive.

Ruthnan was a very close friend of my late wife, the Rev. Gretchen Stamos. She and Gretchen were members of PEO, a women's philanthropic and educational organization, for many years. Ruthnan was also a faithful servant of God, having served as a deacon for many years.

Ruthnan loved helping people. Even though she had little herself, she always managed to find ways to help people in a bad spot. She managed several rental properties around town and I remember going with her on many occasions to pick up rent or check on the welfare of tenants.

Now, this was a time when Ruthnan could still drive, but her eyesight was failing due to glaucoma. I would ride with her in her Chevy van. I used to laugh and call her method of driving the "Braille" method because she would use the raised "Botts Dots" on the roadway to alert her to when she was drifting into the next lane. We would be driving along and I'd hear the "bump, bump, bump, bump" as she drifted from one side of the lane to the other. Through the grace of God, we always arrived safely, but as her vision deteriorated, I wound up driving her to her appointments.

After Ruthnan's beloved Lee passed away, we helped move her into a small, one-bedroom condo near the UNLV campus. We would visit her frequently. She managed to get around the cramped apartment in her wheelchair but spent much of her time in her motorized recliner. By this time, she was virtually blind. She sat in the recliner and "watched" (or rather listened to) TV. She loved the old TV programs, newscasts, and especially the Lawrence Welk Show. Because her hearing was going bad as well, the TV was turned up pretty loud.

I always marveled at Ruthnan's indomitable and independent spirit. Despite her failing health, she always had a project or special cause that she would enthusiastically talk about. Since she couldn't see, we rigged up her flip cellphone with raised stickers on certain numbers so she could "feel" which numbers to push. Her phone connected her to the world and she used it to benefit many people with her wisdom, love, and charity.

To say that Ruthnan's life was remarkable is truly an understatement. She was undoubtedly one of the most intelligent and quick-witted people I've ever known. She loved hearing from former students who still corresponded with her; telling her how much her teaching had enriched their lives.

She was an astute businesswoman, a teacher, philanthropist, and a loving soul with a heart of gold. In other words, Ruthnan Bigelow as as original and authentic as they get. I was honored and privileged to have been a part of her life and I will always miss her deeply.

What gives me solace is that she is rejoicing with the angels and our Saviour in Heaven along with my beloved wife, Gretchen. I'm sure they are once again enjoying each other's company as they did for so many years here on Earth.

Goodbye, Ruthnan. May you rest in God's embrace for eternity.

George Stamos

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Drew Wallace

Comments:

Drew Wallace

If you would please call me at 702 640 9105 please sir If you would please call me at 702 640 9105 please sir If you would please call me at 702 640 9105 please ... Read more

Barbara Bigelow

Aunty, the world has lost a wonderful woman, but Heaven gained so much more. Love Barbara

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Gary Ashness

1979, Rhode Island, USA

Ruthnan and the family

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Comments:

Gary Ashness

Ruthnan was most supportive and encouraging to the entire Bigelow family. She certainly was very engaging... Read more Ruthnan was most supportive and encouraging to the entire Bigelow family. She certainly was very engaging and you could feel ... Read more Ruthnan was most supportive and encouraging to the ... Read more

Hal Brown

Ruthnan was my 10th grade biology teacher at Morningside High School in Inglewood, Ca. in 1956. She inspired me through her enthusiasm for science and human interaction to become a biology teacher myself for 31 years.
I have kept in contact with her and her life for all of these last 64 years visiting her periodically in her long time hometown of Las Vegas. She always had an enduring determination for whatever she was involved with from teaching to a real estate career to even repossessing cars for an insurance company and following one "client" to Europe to repossess the car....successfully!
She was interesting to be around and interested in those she was around.
A wonderful person, truly missed.
Hal Brown

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