Every once in a while on Facebook, I receive a notification about a wave or a poke. The latter I typically find awkward. It’s such an “old school” thing on social media, and I know some people find it to be pushy. Heck, I got a poke the other day, which led me to think, “Why is this still a thing?”
One of the folks who often waved, however, was always welcome to do so. That was Ruth Lange, a kind woman who was active on Facebook well into her 90s and who was always a ray of light. Based on the past sense, you’ve probably figured out by now that Ruth is no longer with us. She moved on to Heaven last week at the tender age of 96.
Ruth was one of more than 80 people I interviewed for my debut book, “Goodbye, Butterfly: Murder, faith and forgiveness in a small Kansas town,” and she was (is) one of my favorites. Her story, her granddaughter’s story and their relationship with the Keller family is a critical piece of the puzzle.
Ruth moved with her husband, Glenn, to Dover in 1969 and lived in the community until 2006. The wife of the beloved principal of the junior high and grade school, she wore dozens of hats, including raising one of Brenda’s best friends (her granddaughter Misty), playing the piano at the Federated Church, and working as a librarian and substitute teacher in the schools for more than 30 years.
“I was happy for Misty to have a playmate,” Ruth said of Brenda, who came to Dover in 1984, six years after Misty moved there. “God sent us a playmate for Misty. We had a nice neighborhood. One of the neighbors had a swimming pool, and we had memorable summer evenings across the street.”
Along with neighbors and friends interviewed for the book, Ruth helped to paint a portrait of small town America that resonates with many of the readers of “Goodbye, Butterfly.” Dover’s story is a work of art like thousands crafted across the country. It’s a tale of simpler, innocent times.
That all changed on Oct. 19, 1991, when Brenda died. Given her name by the owner of the Christian radio station in Topeka, Joy-88, Ruth was one of the first people Topeka Capital-Journal reporter Tim Hrenchir interviewed about the murder.
“She was very calm on the phone. I was very surprised,” Hrenchir said during a 2017 interview. “She was talkative.”
Hrenchir quoted Ruth in a front-page article that stunned and saddened thousands of readers: “Girl’s murder shocks small town.” That story was my introduction to Brenda Michelle Keller. Little did I know I would write a book about her 33 years later.
“She would cry and complain if you squashed a bug, or stepped on a worm or swatted a fly,” Ruth said in the article. “It’s been a terrible, terrible blow.”
Though Brenda’s death happened during my sophomore year at Burlingame High School, I didn’t start researching her case until 2017, more than 25 years later. The more I dug into the story, unfortunately, the more times I came across a source who was no longer with us, including Ruth’s husband.
However, I was able to interview a number of people who lived well into their 80s, including Ruth, and Brenda’s grandparents and Aunt B. Without these folks, “Goodbye, Butterfly” does not happen.
I had lunch with Misty, Ruth and my wife in 2018 at a Chili’s in Lawrence. We spoke for more than two hours, and I was thoroughly impressed with Ruth’s memory at age 90. Many of the details she shared with us that day are in the book.
What I will always remember about Ruth is a humorous story she told us:
“One of my folder friends passed away about 20 years ago,” she said. “We were there for the funeral, and Misty and I were talking about when I die, I want to have Bob (Brenda’s father) preach my funeral. I told Bob, and he said, ‘I’d be glad to … if I’m still here.’”
Fittingly, Bob will lead Ruth’s service this Saturday in Dover. Don’t be surprised if I wave to the heavens at some point.
Loved my mom Ruth Ann RIST Dorland Lange very much. She recently passed away in her 90s. Miss her lots. I am her oldest child, daughter Elizabeth Dorland