Ruth LaChance

Ruth Ella LaChance of Wamego, and formerly of Lake Villa, Illinois, passed peacefully from this earthly life into the arms of our loving Lord on August 30, 2026, at Good Shepherd Hospice Hospice in Manhattan.

She was born on May 1, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Herman and Elsa (Hartig) Barthel. She was the fourth of five daughters.

On June 2, 1956, she married William Jack LaChance and he preceded her in death on July 21, 1975. The had three children; son Kevin (Dale) LaChance, daughter Hope (Sasa) LaChance and son Keith (Marie) LaChance.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and four sisters, Esther (Frederick) LaChance, Dora (Robert) Pieper, Irmgard (Alphonse) Dembrowski, and Louise (Charles) Benzing.

She is survived children; seven grandchildren, William LaChance, Nikola Trkulja, Nenad Trkulja, Garett LaChance, Connor LaChance, Logan LaChance, and Jarred LaChance, and many nieces and nephews, and their children.

Ruth attended Flower Tech and Ravenswood Hospital Nursing School in Chicago. She became and accomplished RN, surgical nurse and surgical supervisor at Condell Memorial Hospital in Libertyville, Illinois and Lake Forest Hospital in Lake Forest, Illinois. She selflessly gave back to the community by volunteering as camp nurse at Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation. She also volunteered as Troop committee member and Chairperson for Troops 83 and 188, and Lakes District committee of NEIC. She was inducted into the Order of the Arrow.

After retiring and moving to Wamego, Ruth became heavily involved in her church, Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church and it's quilt making group, the Piecemakers. She was an avid quilter and helped make many hand-made quilts for fundraisers and donations.

Ruth will be greatly missed by her family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 17535 Say Road, Wamego, Kansas 66547. Inurnment will be in Windridge Cemetery in Cary, Illinois at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to donate to the Piecemakers of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church or a cause of their choosing.

The Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.