Ruth Geneva Butterfield

Ruthie Geneva Butterfield

5/20/1934 - 1/23/2026

Ruthie Geneva Butterfield passed away on January 23, 2026, at the age of 91 in Elk Grove, CA. She was born on May 20, 1934, in Oklahoma City to Curtis Edgar and Lulu Tishie Tharp. She was the last of 10 biological siblings. Her mother died when Ruthie was 5 years old. At the age of 8 she was placed in the Christian foster home of Albert and Edna Eskew in Ceres, CA. There she had 4 other siblings.

Ruth attended the Modesto First Church of God where she met David Eugene Butterfield. They had their first date at age 16 and were married on September 3, 1954, at age 20. While living in San Luis Obispo, CA, David was drafted into the army. They were stationed at Fort Sheridan, Illinois for 2 years when their son Ronald was born in June of 1958. After David was discharged they moved back to San Luis where Yvonne was born in May of 1960.

Both Ruth and David believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior and lived their lives as Christians. Music in the church was a big part of their lives. Ruth played the piano and they both sang in various musical groups.

In 1962 they moved to Santa Maria, CA, where Ruth started a daycare in her home. Afterwards, she was an elementary substitute school teacher for 6 years. She returned to school and studied Early Childhood Education and qualified to become a preschool teacher. In 1980 they moved to Rancho Cordova, CA, where Ruth worked at The Farmhouse Preschool until she retired in the year 2000.

Ruth was preceded in death by David Butterfield, her husband of 66 years, in June of 2020. She is survived by her son, Ronald Butterfield (Deborah) and daughter, Yvonne Giesser (Rick), as well as 4 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Ruth was laid to rest on Feb. 3, 2026, at East Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento, CA.