Ruth (Schmidt) Eich was born in Manning, Iowa, in 1934 daughter of Henry and Mamie (Opperman) Schmidt. When she was three weeks old, her father passed away very suddenly. Her mother, brothers Harold and Glen, and Ruth moved in with their grandparents, William and Maggie (Karstens) Opperman, on the farm 1 1/4 miles north of the west edge of Manning.
Ruth attended Ewoldt No. 3 school through eighth grade 1939 to 1948. She remembers Leone Conner and especially Margaret Ohde as her teachers. Living 3/4 of a mile from school, she walked to and from school most of the time. Fond memories include putting on Christmas programs for families in the district, end of the year picnics, learning from the older students, and helping out the younger ones. Using the outdoor toilets and walking to school in VERY cold, snowy weather are not fond memories. Her mother had also attended Ewoldt No. 3 school.
Ruth attended Manning High School 1948 to 1952. Again she walked to and from school some of the time unless she was able to get a ride with the neighbors or on very rare occasions she would drive during her senior year. The fondest memories were during the senior year when she was a class officer, homecoming attendant, Christmas dance queen, being in the junior-senior play, participating in band, especially pep band, and editor of the yearbook.
Upon graduation from high school, she attended Iowa State University majoring in Home Economics Education 1952-1956. She was able to work to pay for all her college expenses.
On August 29, 1955, she married Allan Eich, a graduate of Manning High School in 1953. He also attended Iowa State University 1953-1958, receiving a degree in Farm Operations.
Upon graduation from college, Ruth was Extension Home Economist in Boone County for 1 1/2 years. She taught Home Economics at Moville High School before teaching at Manning High School from February 1964 to June 1965. She finished out the year for Christine Sanders, Home Economics teacher at Manning for many years, due to Christine having surgery. In addition to teaching Home Economics, she had a section of government for seniors and a study hall. The Home Ec department was in the elementary school building between Second and Third street. The superintendent at that time was William Baley and principal was Robert Melick. During the summer, Ruth was involved with moving the department to the new elementary building on Tenth Street. She then taught the next full year in the new building, organized a 10-week adult education program as well as teaching a 10-week sewing class to adults. From Manning, the Eichs moved to Solon, Iowa, where Ruth taught Home Economics for 10 years, having student teachers from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. She was also very involved in having boys join the Home Ec classes and eventually there were as many boys in the Home Ec classes as there were girls. She remembers having 4 of the starting 5 players from the 1973 High School Basketball team who went to state tournament in her class.
While the Eichs lived in Carroll before moving to Manning in 2006, Ruth taught eighth grade at Holy Cross School in Arcadia from 1991 to 1995. Then from 1995 to 1998 she taught Family and Consumer Science (Home Economics) at Kuemper High School in Carroll.
In addition to receiving her bachelors degree, Ruth was also a fully licensed insurance agent and was involved in operating insurance agencies connected to the banks that Allan was managing.
Since Allan and Ruth retired in 1998, they have been doing considerable traveling. They spend their winters in Sun City, Arizona, and their summers in Manning, Iowa. Her favorite pastimes are spending time with their family, doing crocheting, embroidery, quilting, and fishing. Their children are Lynn Eich, Geneseo, Illinois, who attended Manning Public School Kindergarten, first, and second grades; Pamela Borkowski, (Mrs. Dave), Irwin, Iowa, who attended Manning Public school in Kindergarten; Keith (deceased); and Teresa Palthe (Mrs. Steve), San Carlos, California.
Eich family 1975 Back: Pamela, Lynn. Front: Ruth, Teresa, Allan.