Elizabeth Ruff Papers

Elizabeth Ruff, born on the 6th of July in 1920, hails from Wyoming, where she remained many years. She, then Elizabeth Fritz, was one of thirteen children. Elizabeth married her high school sweetheart, a farmer named Manual Ruff, directly after graduating. After Manual's death in 1968, Elizabeth sought a bachelor's degree in Special Education at Black Hills State University. She worked as a dormitory director to pursue her life-long dream of being a teacher. A teaching job was soon secured in Alliance, Nebraska in a particularly challenging Special Education classroom. Elizabeth was passionate about improving the lives of her students, and worked exceedingly well with parents and administration. Later, she helped establish a Resource Room where she was able to work with a variety children in the school system. During this time and after, Elizabeth worked to continue her education, and in 1979, received her master's degree. Elizabeth relocated to South Dakota and taught in the Pine Ridge Reservation. There, she eventually created a Special Education program, and devoted her time and energy to students with special needs. After teaching for seven years at Manderson Day School, Elizabeth made retirement plans. Although now retired, Elizabeth stayed active by substitute teaching in the Northern Black Hills, and joined the Literacy Council in Spearfish, South Dakota. Through her efforts, Miss America, Tara Holland, whose primary interest was teaching students with reading issues, appeared at the Spearfish Festival in the Park in 1997. Additionally, in 2003, Elizabeth earned the Reminiscent Teachers Award from the South Dakota Retired Teachers Association. On May 29, 2016, Elizabeth Ruff died while living in Walnut Creek California. She was 95 years old.