Ruth Anne Reed

Ruth Anne Reed, age 79, died peacefully in prayer while gazing into her devoted husband’s eyes on September 28, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona. She was born February 2, 1946 in Aurora, Nebraska to Elvera (Janzen) and the late Ed Peters and was raised in Henderson, NE. She was the first grandchild for both her maternal and paternal grandparents and as a result, her entire family, but especially her siblings and younger cousins were of primary importance for her throughout her life.

Ruth Anne attended Nebraska School for the Deaf and graduated in 1966. She hated being away from her family in her early years at school and was so surprised and thrilled when her brother came to NSD as well that she hugged him with delight. She was a proud NSD alum and loved keeping up with news from her fellow classmates. A highlight of her life was participating in a conference for Deaf community leaders at Gallaudet University in the 1980s. Deaf culture and community were a central part of her life.

In1968 Ruth Anne met Donald Reed (NSD class of 1958) at a baseball game and they married in 1969 at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson, Nebraska. Together they moved to Sierra Vista, AZ in the mid 1970s where she worked at Fort Huachuca. She was actively involved with the growing Deaf community in Sierra Vista and with American Sign Language classes and the ASL labs at both Cochise Community College and later at Pima Community College in Tucson. During the 1980’s Ruth, along with her husband, would receive reel to reel movies and hold viewing parties in the clubhouse at her residence. Her children have early memories of projected movies with captions for the Deaf community in Sierra Vista.

Ruth Anne always enjoyed a close relationship to God and appreciated the interpreters who helped her access his teachings each Sunday. At the time of her death, she was a member of the New Testament Baptist Church in Tucson, Arizona. She loved working on her cross stitch, praying while she sewed.

Ruth Anne is survived by her husband, Donald of Tucson, her two daughters: Beth (Noah) Suby of Sedona, and Cindy Reed of Tucson; grandsons Koel and Indus Suby, and Donovan Fidler; mother Elvera Peters of Freeman, SD; brother Richard (Rebecca) Peters of Huachuca City, AZ and precious sister Margie (Everett) Waltner of Freeman, SD.

Ruth Anne is preceded in death by her daughter, Tami Reed, and her father, Ed Peters.

Celebration of Life will be held on October 13, 2025, 1pm, at New Testament Baptist Church located at 2855 N Craycroft Rd Tucson, Az 85712.