Mary Margaret Ruhlman

Mary Margaret (Gates) Ruhlman, 92, of Prairie Village, formerly of Atchison, KS, died Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Mass of Christian burial will be on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Church in Atchison, KS. A rosary will begin at 10:00 a.m. with visitation to follow at the church prior to the mass on Saturday. She will be laid to rest at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Benedict Parish to be designated to the St. Joseph Church Kitchen or Mount St. Scholastica in care of the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home.

Mary Margaret was born on March 20, 1932, in Leavenworth, KS, the daughter of the late Michael and Emma (Zelfer) Gates. She was a proud alumnus of St. Mary's Academy.

She and Clarence C. Ruhlman were united in marriage on May 30, 1955, at St. Lawrence Church in Easton, KS. She was a member of St. Joseph Church and served her church in numerous aspects. She and Clarence were always devoted to their church and to their faith.

Mary Margaret furthered her education with her teaching degree from Missouri Western and her graduate degree from Emporia State University, later in life, while raising her children. She became a teacher at Franklin Grade School and later transferred to Central Grade School, teaching for over thirty years. She served as a substitute teacher in retirement until she was eighty years old. She had a great passion for education and teaching children.

Her children will always cherish her home cooked meals, the aroma and taste of her sticky cinnamon buns, homemade noodles, cherry pies, potato salad, rolls and so much more. Every morning had to begin with her coffee. She loved to sew, crochet and needle point and would fulfill her free time watching the news and working jigsaw puzzles. Every week she looked forward to joining her friends to play bridge. She loved outdoor work, tending to her plants and watching the hummingbirds and cardinals. Mary Margaret enjoyed travelling with her family to numerous destinations and collected rocks in her travels as memorabilia to showcase in her gardens.

Survivors include four daughters, Mary Sue Ruhlman, Lea Ann Ruhlman, Jane Ruhlman, Joan (Todd) Steffes; her son, Stephen (Suzanne) Ruhlman; her sister, Virginia Giller; brother, Leslie (Barb) Gates; sisters-in-law, Donna Gates, Kathy Gates, Lenora Ruhlman, Mary Becker, Patricia Alders; brother-in-law, Richard Ruhlman; and seven grandchildren, Sarah Steffes, Megan Steffes, Camille (Jagdeep) Malik, Mary Grace (Evan, Fiancé) Ruhlman, David Ruhlman, Margaret Ruhlman and Joseph Ruhlman.

She is preceded in death by her husband, two brothers, Michael and David Gates, and a brother-in-law, Lawrence Giller.