Ruth Elizabeth Susan (Sheppard) Nygren

Memorial Program

Wednesday July 1st

11:00 am Interment of Urn, Pangman, SK Cemetery

Officiant: Rev. David Sheppard

Followed by a Luncheon, South SK Victory Centre,

400 Benson Ave, Pangman, SK SOC 2C0

"For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable,

 and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality,

 then the saying that is written will come true: ''Death has been swallowed up in victory. "- 1 Corinthians 15:53-54

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law aunt, niece, cousin and friend, Ruth Elizabeth Susan Nygren (nee Sheppard) passed away with her husband by her side, on May 8, 2026 at the age of 71 years.

Ruth was predeceased by her parents: Lloyd George and Margaret Sheppard; her niece Arlene Joy; great niece Charlotte· Gerald's parents Gordon and Irene Nygren, Gerald's nephews Shane and Corey, Gerald's brother Howard and many Aunts and Uncles both in the Sheppard family and in the Nygren family.

Ruth will be lovingly remembered by her husband Gerald; son Simon (Luisa and daughter Olivia}; son Joel (Myranda and their children Jaelynn, Ozmund and an expected daughter, Rhedwyn Lennox Ruth); brother David (Rowene and family); brother John (Debbie and family); brother Paul (Brenda and family); four brothers in law, Richard (Kathleen), David (Lorraine and family}, Dale (Violet and family}, and Kevin; one sister in law, Kris and her family; Auntie Doreen, Aunt Marion; as well as many cousins, other family and friends.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21

Remembering Ruth

Ruth was a godly lady who passed away peacefully after being hospitalized for 11 months. She leaves behind a legacy of faith, kindness and love. Her gentle spirit touched many lives, and she will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Starting in 1975, Ruth's cross cultural foreign _ministry began in Mexico with a number of exploratory trips and a nine-month volunteer position at an orphanage working with children, especially babies.

Ruth and Gerald met on Jan 16, were engaged on May 10 and married on July 14. All in 6 months! Shortly after their wedding, they began full-time ministry together in Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, and USA.

Harvest Missionary Worker and a special fund has been set up ensuring that Ruth's legacy will carry on. These funds will help the Spanish materials to be reprinted and distributed and the recordings to be aired again.

Please follow the link below to contribute to the new Gerald Nygren Ministry and Travel Fund in Honour of Ruth

https://my.acop.ca/ gerald-nygren-ministry-travel/.

Other ways to donate: Call ACOP at 403.273.5777 or mail donations to ACOP of Canada, #119 - 2340 Pegasus Way NE, Calgary, AB T2E 8M5. Each donation should indicate project number 6701.

Celebration of Life Program

Saturday May 30th at 4:30 pm

Coaldale Mennonite Church (CMC)

2316 17th St, Coaldale, AB TIM 1G3

Officiant

Rev. Pieter L. van Ewijk, Pastor Coaldale Mennonite Church

Pallbearers

Simon Nygren and Joel Nygren

Honorary Pallbearers

Rev. David and Rowene Sheppard

Order of Service

Instrumental Prelude

Entry of Family

Rev. Pieter L. van Ewijk and CMC Team

Placement of Urn

Simon and Joel, sons

Oh Canada

Luisa, daughter in law

Welcome on behalf of the Church

Rev. Eric Giesbrecht and Maribel Giesbrecht

Opening prayer and memory

Rev. Pieter L. van Ewijk and April van Ewijk

Scripture I Corinthians 15:50-58, Matthew 25:34-40

Rev. Paul Sheppard, brother

Song, The Old Rugged Cross

John and Debbie Sheppard, brother and sister in law

Eulogy

John Sheppard

Song, The Longer I Serve Him

John and Debbie Sheppard

Song, But Until Then

Rev. Paul Sheppard

Greetings and memory

Jerry and Brenda Schuetz, ACOP Global Harvest Directors

Memories

Joel Nygren

Memories

Simon Nygren

Songs, I Want To be Where You Are,

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Luisa and Olivia, daughter in law and granddaughter

"A Life Well Lived" Memories/ Words of Comfort

Rev. Doug Siggelkow, co-missionary

Video "Ruth's Life and Love Over the Years"

Closing remarks

Rev. Pieter L. van Ewijk

Instrumental Postlude

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Family Member.

A life that faithfully demonstrated love to God and others.

Ruth Elizabeth Susan Nygren (nee Sheppard) was born on July 5, 1954 and grew up in Pangman, SK.  She passed away peacefully at 71 years of age on May 8, 2026 at Chinook Regional Hospital, Lethbridge, AB.

Predeceased by her father and mother Lloyd George and Margaret Sheppard, her niece Arlene Joy Sheppard, daughter of her brother David Sheppard as well as her brother-in-law Howard.

Ruth will always be lovingly remembered by her husband Gerald; children Simon (Luisa) and Olivia, Joel (Myranda), Jaelynn, Ozmund and one expected granddaughter, Rhedwyn Lennox Ruth; and also by her extended family.

Ruth Nygren lived a life characterized by her love for God and others. She accepted Jesus personally at an early age and lived a life at peace with God. She was a dedicated and loving daughter, sibling to 3 special brothers, family member, wife, mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother.

From her early 20’s as a Global Harvest Missionary Worker, Ruth Nygren served God, primarily cross-culturally. After her marriage to Gerald on July 14, 1979, they ministered full-time; residing over the years in Canada, USA, Mexico (12 years) and Guatemala (14 years). Her missionary work also included numerous international ministry trips to various places in Latin America (El Salvador, and Costa Rica), Spain, as well as extensive travel from coast to coast in Canada.  In Canada, Ruth put roots down in Champion, AB and then later moved to Coaldale, AB.  

Besides serving side by side with Gerald in the churches and Bible Schools, she helped in several Christian Day schools as a kindergarten reading teacher (Hope Christian School, Champion and Puebla Christian School), secretary, PTA leader, and supervisor for activities and outings (Christian Academy of Guatemala). Both in formal roles and spontaneously, Ruth demonstrated love to so many — one-on-one, across the generations, deeply, consistently, and sacrificially.

She worked hand in hand in ministry with Gerald, often showing acts of kindness to those in need, spent countless hours editing and revising Gerald’s Spanish Bible Teachings and often team taught with Gerald. 

Gerald will continue as a Global Harvest Missionary Worker also ensuring that Ruth’s legacy will carry on in the Spanish-speaking world as the materials are reprinted and distributed and as the evangelistic, teaching and training recordings are aired again in Bible School and on the Radio and Internet.

To celebrate Ruth’s life, a Funeral Service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the Coaldale Mennonite Church, 2316 17 Street, Coaldale, AB.

For those unable to attend in person, Live Streaming will be available by scrolling to the bottom of this obituary and clicking on the Live Stream link. 
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ruth Elizabeth Susan (Sheppard) Nygren, please visit our floral store.