Ruth Birdean Adelman

Ruth Birdean Adelman, 90, a long-time resident of Casper, Wyoming, died peacefully at her son’s home in Douglas, Wyoming, after a lengthy illness.

Born on February 10, 1935, at the family home in Grand Junction, Colorado, to Herbert Leon and Jennie Vinson, she was the oldest of three children. She was a role model to her two younger siblings, Johanna (Jo) and John Leon, who often expressed their admiration for her strength and wisdom.

Ruth was raised on the family acreage in Grand Junction and attended public schools before going to a private finishing school and attending college out of state. At age 18, she accompanied her grandmother via train and ship to the family homeland in Holland. During that trip, she began to cultivate a life-long love of traveling and seeing the world. She traveled to nearly all 50 states, Europe, China, North America, Central and South America and Russia.

In 1958, she married Charles D. Adelman in Grand Junction, and they had three boys, Mark, Matt and Stephen, after moving to Casper, Wyoming.

Both Ruth and Charles “Chuck” loved learning and helping others and had careers in the public school districts. Ruth worked as a librarian at the Casper Children’s Home and, later, for the Natrona County School District. She then went back to her first love as a librarian at an elementary school where she could interact daily with children and teach them about her love for books and the world. After retirement, she went to work for School of the Deaf, setting up their library.

She was a lifetime member of Grace Lutheran Church in Casper and taught Sunday School for a time. Her faith and belief in peace and love was strong and enduring; which was passed on to her children, as was a love of learning.

In 2022, she moved to her son’s home in Douglas after having lived in Casper for 66 years. She loved animals her entire life and enjoyed near-constant dog companions, including Elkie, Sweet Pea and Sir Benjamin James Bond “Benji”.

She was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law and Charles in 2013. They had been married 55 years, and had celebrated their 50th with a big family reunion. That included an excursion up Casper Mountain to the family property where Charles had built a beautiful cabin on 20 acres overlooking Muddy Mountain. The family had many memories of fun times together there.

She is survived by her three sons, Mark (Lacie), Matt (Lisa) and Stephen; grandchildren David (Kortney) of Arizona and Aaron and Evan Adelman of Port Orchard, Alisha (Steve) Carver, Brandie and Jennifer Adelman, all of Douglas, and Shayne (Josh) Kost and Kaden (Hannah) Adelman, all of Casper; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

A private celebration of life for family and Ruth’s close friends will be held June 14 at the Adelman family cabin on the east end of Casper Mountain.

Bustard’s Funeral Home in Casper was in charge of cremation and arrangements.