Ruth Ellis was born March 17, 1899, at Meckling, South Dakota, in Clay County, to William and Eunice (Grieve) Ellis.

At the age of seven, she moved with her parents by horse and wagon to Cottonwood, South Dakota, where they homesteaded.  She grew up and received her education in the Cottonwood and Philip areas.

Ruth was united in marriage to Roy Guptill on October 18, 1916, at Rapid City, South Dakota.  To this union were born four children, Earl, Francis, William, and Carol.  They moved to a homestead in the Potato Creek area where they farmed and ranched and for a short time they lived in Wisconsin prior to moving back to the Green Valley area where they farmed and ranched.

Her husband, Roy, preceded her in death in 1931.

Ruth continued to operate the farm and ranch in the Green Valley area.  She was united in marriage to James Case on July 29, 1941, at Martin, South Dakota.  To this union was born one daughter, Jean.  They continued to farm and ranch in the Green Valley area.

James preceded her in death on August 10, 1960.  Ruth continued to live in the Green Valley area until moving into Interior in 1982, where she lived until her death.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Interior and was a former member of the Rebecca Lodge.  She was instrumental in organizing and participated in the Guptill Rhythm Band, which consisted of her, her three sons, and various other people from that community.  They played on various occasions for about 40 years.  For over 50 years she reported the Green Valley News for the Kadoka Press and many years for the Bennett County Booster, and after moving into Interior she also reported the Interior News until January of 1988.

Grateful for having shared her life are her two sons, Francis Guptill of Interior, and William "Bill" Guptill of Modesto, California; two daughters, Mrs. Carol (Bob) Tystad of Gordon, Nebraska, and Mrs. Jean (Leland) Cutler of Piedmont, South Dakota; 29 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-granddaughter; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her first husband, Roy, and her second husband, James, she was preceded in death by one son, Earl Guptill in 1987; one great-grandson in infancy in 1983; her parents; one brother, Earl "Stub" Ellis in 1981; and two sisters, Ethel Craft in 1971, and Thona Jensen in 1987.

Services
Saturday, March 26, 1988
11:00 a.m.
High School Auditorium
Interior, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Aron Wilterding

Music
Jill Trohkimoinen and
Lois Porch - Pianists
Judy Kratovil - Vocalist

Ushers
Dale Guptill - Pat Guptill

Active Pallbearers
Theron Cutler - Roy Guptill
Perry Guptill - Jerry Tystad
Leroy Guptill - Harvey Langager

Interment
Interior Cemetery
Interior, South Dakota