G. Ruth (Mateika) Gober

Farmington
Ruth Gober
Feb. 28, 1927 - Sept. 2, 2017
The last breath taken on this earth came to Ruth M. Gober on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. She was born Gladyn Ruth Matejka on Feb. 28, 1927, Wheelock, Texas. Ruth was the wife of Jim Gober and mother to son Kerwin Gober, both still of Farmington.
Ruth was preceded in death by her mother, Minnie Wintrachek Matejka Moss; and her sister, Eileen Souto. Other surviving family include her niece, Lorraine Souto; and two nephews, William Wade Souto and Nathan Souto all residing in Florida. Another niece, Joyce Gober resides in Austin, Texas.
Ruth grew up in the small Texas town of Wheelock and then attended Franklin High School where after in addition to being a class officer and being crowned "Football Sweetheart" her senior year, she graduated valedictorian of her class in 1944. She went on to attend the University of Texas in Austin and earned her bachelor of business administration degree.
While working in Austin as a legal secretary she met her husband to be of over 70 years, Jim Gober. They were married on April 13, 1947 and Jim and Ruth continued to reside in Austin for seven more years until an opportunity arose for Jim to buy into and operate a radio station in Las Cruces. After being promised that they would return to Austin in five years, Ruth reluctantly agreed to move with Jim to New Mexico and help run KOBE radio station.
After arriving in New Mexico and settling in for several years, one sweltering hot summer day in 1958, in an unairconditioned Las Cruces Hospital, Ruth gave birth to their son, Kerwin. Jim became successful with the radio station in Las Cruces and expanded with his partners into two more stations located in Durango, Colo. and Farmington. In spite of his promise to return to Austin, Jim moved the family to Farmington in the winter of 1965-66 and Ruth became suspicious that she was never going to live in Texas again.
The family thrived in Farmington and Ruth came to love her adopted home and state as she worked alongside Jim at KWYK radio and helped it grow from a single stand-alone station to two stations and then three including KGAK in Gallup. Jim continued his climb as a successful businessman and community leader receiving many awards and recognitions. Always beside him and with him in all that he achieved was his strong and supportive and ever steady wife Ruth. Ruth worked hard raising their son, as well as running the business with Jim. Though most of the honors went to Jim, none would have come without his loving partner Ruth, and she took great pride in him and their family as she stood by his side.
Ruth loved animals, and along with her sister Eileen, was honored to have a cat adoption room named after her at the Farmington Animal Shelter. Ruth supported the San Juan Animal league as well and for many years would often be seen with Jim walking their family dog near their home on Twilight Drive. Ruth was also honored by the Farmington Rotary Club in being named a Paul Harris Fellow for her selfless acts of charity and kindness in everything she did.
One of the things that gave Ruth great discomfort was to ever be the cause of inconvenience, offense or inconsideration to another person. She always went out of her way to assure that others were comfortable and considered when in her presence and she never sought conflict or dissention with anyone around her. She was a strong woman too and when circumstances called for it she was more than capable of standing her ground to ensure the right thing got done, but always with grace and class and in the most considerate and inoffensive manner possible.
Ruth and the family cared for Ruth's mother for many years after Ms. Moss (Nanny) moved to join them in Farmington and until her passing at age 99 in 2006. Ruth would sit and watch the Lawrence Welk show with her mother and remembered growing up in that tiny Texas town with her mother speaking her native Czechoslovakian to her while Ruth answered mostly in English.
On behalf of Ruth, the family would like to thank those that made her final times comfortable and as enjoyable as possible. Thanks and praise go out to her doctors, nurses and the staff at San Juan Regional Medical Center and at Farmington Life Care Center, as well as all the family and friends that helped with final arrangements.
Ruth's final legacy lives on in the people she met and knew and loved and in all the kindness she spread and the love she felt in her heart. Now she moves on to be reunited with her mother, her sister and all those in her life that have passed before her including all the four legged and furry friends. There she will great each of us with her warm, loving, lady-like smile when our turn comes to go be with her. Until we see her again, we can feel reassured that she is happy and peaceful with the lord and among her kind with the angels.
A viewing for Ruth will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 at Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington. A graveside service for Ruth will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11 at Greenlawn Cemetery, 1606 N. Dustin Ave. in Farmington.
With questions please contact Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home at 505-325-8688. Family can be reached at 505-320-9490.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter Foundation, PO Box 692, Farmington, NM, 87499 or the San Juan Animal League, PO Box 142, Farmington, NM, 87499.
Ruth's care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington, 505-325-8688. Those who wish to express their condolences may do so at serenityandcompany.com.