Suzanne “Sue” Elaine Ryerson went home to be with the Savior she loved and served. She passed away at Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital in Warsaw on Monday, May 29, 2023, at the age of 93.

Sue Ryerson

She was born on Jan. 25, 1930, in Whitehouse, Ohio, to Helen Flossie (Heminger) and Archie Farthing. She was a 1948 graduate of Whitehouse High School in Ohio.

On June 12, 1948, in Whitehouse, Ohio, she married her high school sweetheart, the Rev. Milton Ryerson, after which, they spent some time preparing for the ministry. They served together in pastorates in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Florida and Indiana, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, camp worker, pianist, gracious host to many guests, along with many other things in support of her husband’s pastoral ministry. Sue was not only a faithful Christian wife, but also a loving, caring mother who taught, by her example, and biblical principles to her children, seeking to lead them — even as little children — to a personal faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. God gave Sue and Milton 14 days short of 75 blessed years of marriage together before she was ushered into Christ’s presence. She was a member of the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, but also attended, recently, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Winona Lake.

After the pastorate, she and her husband retired to Grace Village Retirement Community where she stayed active in the village life, overseeing and designing — with her gift and joy of flower arrangements — for the chapel, dining room and health care. Twice she received the annual Volunteer of the Year award for her faithful voluntary service. Sue was known for her ready smile, laugh, gracious manner and encouraging words.

Suzanne leaves behind, her husband, Milton (Milt) Ryerson, Winona Lake; two sons, Dr. Greg (Jane) Ryerson, Centerville, Ohio, and Dr. Tom (Janet) Ryerson, Corona, Calif.; and four daughters, Christine (Dave) Ogden, Sebring, Fla., Janie Degitz, Fort Wayne, Yvonne (Bob) Ott, Easton, Pa., and Amy (Tom) Lowe, Warsaw. She also leaves behind 40 grandchildren and more than 80 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, two sons-in-law and a great-grandson.

A private family graveside service will take place at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw. Suzanne’s life will be celebrated with a memorial service at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.

Memorial donations may be made to Grace Village Caring Friends Fund, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590; World Missionary Press, P.O. Box 120, New Paris, IN 46533; or to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 708 College Ave., Winona Lake, IN 46590.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.