A memorial Mass for Sister Ruth Butler was celebrated June 5 at Nazareth Living Center's chapel in south St. Louis County.

Sister Ruth, 94, died June 1 at Nazareth after a heart attack. She served in elementary education for 52 of her 75 years of ministry.

Born in St. Louis, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1942, was received as Sister Anna Paul, and made her final profession in 1948. In 1945, she began teaching at St. Teresa of Avila School in St. Louis. She received a bachelor's degree from Fontbonne University and a master's degree in education from St. Louis University. She later taught in Michigan, Texas and Illinois.

In 1962, Sister Ruth returned to her hometown to teach at St. Rita School before transitioning into the role of principal a year later. In 1969, she was named principal of Our Lady of Lourdes School in University City, serving until 1977 when she took a teaching position at St. Mary School in Bridgeton.

In 1978, Sister Ruth returned to the south, this time in Georgia, to serve as a school principal. She later served as principal at a school in Florida before moving into parish work in stewardship and as the spiritual coordinator for senior adults. In 2013, Sister Ruth retired and came back to St. Louis. She resided at Nazareth Living Center since 2015.