Ruth A. Garst

Ruth A. Garst, age 86, formerly of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 at Fayetteville Health and Rehabilitation in Fayetteville, Ark. Ruth was born on Sept. 25, 1929 in Park Rapids, Minn. to Reuben and Minnie Jacobson. She married Ben F. Garst in Little Rock, Ark. in 1947 and gained a ready-made family. She helped raise their son, Lynn, and their daughter, Barbara. Ruth; and Ben were married 47 years. She was a collector of antiques, bridge player with master points and worked as a realtor, becoming the #1 salesperson in Houston, Texas at one point. She could play the piano beautifully by ear, sang like a professional, sewed without a pattern and was an accomplished artist. This is how we choose to remember her as Alzheimer's robbed her of her identity. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Ben F. Garst; her parents; three brothers: Ralph Jacobson, David Jacobson and Harold Jacobson and three sisters: Myrtle Wilder, Hazel Sitz and Elsie Fearn. Ruth is survived by her son, Lynn (Georgiann) of Rogers, Ark.; her daughter, Barbara of Santa Barbara, Calif.; six grandchildren: Mark (Karen) Garst, David (Jennifer) Garst, Karen (Tom) Olsen, Lorrie (Larry) Belletti, Daniel (Jill) Kindron, Christine Matson; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, Lois (Charles) Bottomley of Albany, Ore.; one brother, Robert Jacobson of Park Rapids, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions in Ruth's name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to the charity of your choice. A service honoring Ruth's memory will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services of Rogers.