Ruth Marie Gettings

Ruth Marie Gettings 

1942-2023  

Ruth Marie Gettings, age 80, a resident of Belen, passed away on Sept. 12, 2023.  

A celebration of life will be held at the Moose Lodge 19482 N.M. 314 in Belen at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 23. 

She is survived by her children, April Russell (Bill), David Clay (Terri), Randy Gettings (Lisa) and Candice Donche (Frank); grandchildren, Justin, Brandi, Rodger, Marybeth, Tina, Roxannie, Stephanie, Amber, Anthony, Darren, Tamara and Colton; and great-grandchildren, Jaedyn, Dalen, Bradley, Brysin, Haven, Leland, Uriah, Kacelynn, Shaylen, Emerson, Conner, Cheyenne, Leah, Estevan, Brooke, Ava, Sophie, Christopher, James and Britany; and numerous nieces and nephews.  

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and siblings, John P. Morgan II, Russell Lee Morgan, Phyllis June Morgan and Elizabeth Jean Scalf.  

She was born in 1942 to John and Donna Snider Morgan in Chicago, Ill., where she was a graduate of Carl Sandburg High School in 1961. Ruth worked at Rose’s Meat Packing in Chicago. She bore her first son, David Clay, in May of 1961. Ruth met her former husband, Richard Gettings, at the grocery store, and they married in 1965.  

Her first daughter, April, was born in 1966. Ruth’s second son, Randy, was born in 1968. Then they moved to Belen in 1969, due to health reasons for Randy. Then her second daughter, Candice, was born in 1971.  

Ruth was a member of Women of the Moose. She worked at TG&Y and Blake’s Lotaburger during the day and bartended at night. Ruth then worked at IGA in Belen as the deli manager until she retired.  

She was baptized in Eagle Creek in Knox, Ind., on May 25, 1958. Ruth loved going on vacation with her family. She went on cruises to Hawaii and Alaska. Ruth flew to Cozumel, Mexico, and Jamaica. She loved dancing, ice skating, playing blackjack and swimming at the lake. 

Ruth’s CB handle was Rowdy Red Head. She was a Halloween baby, so she enjoyed dressing up and had her birthday parties on Halloween day. Christmas was also her favorite holiday, when she had presents stacked to the ceiling for her family. Ruth was very loved and will be missed dearly.  

Please sign Ruth’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.