Ruth Dieterich Wagner Reflects on Eight Decades in Montgomery

Elsie Ruth Armbruster Dieterich Wagner, 98 years old, was born on a farm in Kendall County on August 7, 1912. Her dad Herman was born in 1882 and her mom Hazel was born in 1885.

Ruth had two brothers, Glenn and Russell. Her sister Mary Helene was nine years younger than she. When Ruth was twenty months old, her family moved to Minkler Road near Yorkville. Later, she wed Les Dieterich in Chicago and on November 12, 1932 they moved to SE River Road. Ruth has lived in that Montgomery home for the past 79 years.

It is a lovely home with built-in corner cabinets, a fireplace, book shelves, potted plants and a sun room. Outside, Ruth cultivated her many gardens and the photographs in one of her many albums show a resplendent array of summer blooms.

“This area was all prairie around here,” she began. “We had truck farmers all up and down this road. We would take a dish pan to the fence just north of here and Henry would fill it with fresh produce. We would take the new asparagus and put it on buttered toast. Or the sweet corn and carrots would be on the lunch menu. We had our own strawberry bushes."

"I like to eat. I like most everything,” she laughed. Considering her diminutive presence, her good appetite hasn’t meant any weight gain.

The Dieteriches opened their business at 611 South Broadway in 1950. It was called the Fruit Juice House Number 6, and on their grand opening Sunday, they were open from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. There were free popsicles for the kids, and plenty of free parking.

With the purchase of a Wisconsin fresh, Grade A gallon of milk, a pint of Half & Half was free. A gallon of milk cost 60 cents. Sour cream was 25 cents a pint. Sweet cream butter in two pound crocks was $1.39. Ice cream was 88 cents a half-gallon. They had the usual flavors including butter pecan, raspberry ripple, strawberry, chocolate and vanilla.

Ruth and Les operated the business for fifteen years.

Les died in 1977 and Ruth contributed to the community for the next twelve years. She wed Al Wagner in 1989, and he died in 2007. Her son Thomas Dieterich was born in 1935. “Little Tad” is now a retired lawyer with three grown daughters who lives in New Jersey and travels extensively throughout the world.

When Ruth celebrated her 90th birthday, her son hosted a lawn garden party for
her. Congratulatory letters were received from among others State Senator Chris Lauzen and Senator Richard Finan from the Ohio Senate.

Ruth’s contributions included volunteer work with the Wayside Cross, the Kiwanis and East Aurora Schools. In 1980 she was named a “Woman of Distinction” by the YWCA of Aurora.

Last year Ruth was honored by the East Aurora Teacher’s Association with the Community Service Award. One of her former employees from the Juice House couldn’t make it to Aurora because of the weather, but instead he sent Ruth a bouquet of two dozen red roses. He is now a professor at Howard University, and has always remembered Ruth’s smile and positive attitude.

Ruth has a collection of postcards she has received from friends travelling the world. There are postals from Uganda, Germany, Holland, Italy, Greece, Egypt, and England. Ruth said she recalls her trip to the Holy Land as one of the best vacations she had ever experienced.

“I think that society has changed quite a bit," she said." It seems we live now in a wasteful society. People throw away and buy new. We used to make do with everything until it finally broke or disintegrated. It must be my German heritage," she laughed.

“I have belonged to the Presbyterian Church my whole life. It was the Oswego Presbyterian Church before we joined the First Presbyterian Church in Aurora. God is good,” she said smiling.

She raised her coffee cup as she looked outside the window at the meandering Fox River. It was a lovely scene. Just then a large group of blackbirds flew across the water and took perch on some tall branches of the ancient oak. Harbingers of spring and the renewal of life.

“I love living here,” she mused. “What a beautiful view.”