An unusual achiever with a lifetime of service and generosity to her credit was honored Monday, May 11, at the 13th annual Legacy Society Banquet sponsored by Meadowlark Hills Foundation. 

Ruth Wells, who served as a Marine Corps baker during World War II then chose a career of service as a Kansas State University Extension Home Economist,  was presented the  2015 Legacy Award by Board of Directors president and master of ceremonies Terry Arthur. The award recognizes persons who have given a lifetime of public service, financial contributions and volunteer efforts to the Meadowlark Hillscommunity.

“Ruth may be small in stature, but she’s big in heart,” said Ruth’s friend Bea Rasmussen. “While being an unusual achiever, she’s very humble.” 
 

Other award winners were Lincoln Deihl, Rae Stamey and Margaret Wheat. Lincoln, a former K-State professor in management, won the Good Samaritan Award for his faithful contributions to the Good Samaritan Fund over the past eight years. In 2014, he also helped fund the east gazebo near Bayer Pond.

Rae, who spends countless hours collecting and arranging fresh flowers for Prairie Star Restaurant and Verna Belle’s Café tables, took home the Johanna Lyle Excellence in Service Award. This award, named for its first recipient, Johanna Lyle, a former Meadowlark Hills board president and professor in accounting at K-State, recognizes individuals who have contributed leadership, resources, time and task to the Meadowlark Hills mission to serve elders. 

A fourth award, new this year, is named of its first recipient, Margaret Wheat, a current resident and former long-serving board member. The Margaret Wheat Spirit of Meadowlark Hills Award honors a resident who embodies the spirit and person-directed culture of Meadowlark Hills. 

Margaret’s integral role over the past few years on the Meadowlark Hills history committee and her dedication to telling the stories of the ideas and decisions that helped create our retirement community prompted the Foundation board to honor Margaret in this way.

About 95 residents, staff, current and former board members and Legacy Society members attended this year’s event, which was held at the Bluemont Hotel. The Legacy Society, with 52 members, includes those who have named Meadowlark Hills Foundation as a recipient of charitable giving through estate planning. Also, the Society welcomes donors who have given one-time or cumulative gifts which total $25,000 or more.
 

The Rev. Jim Reed, formerly senior minister at the First United Methodist Church, was the banquet speaker, He described how Meadowlark Hills has impacted his life as well as the lives of many in Manhattan. Jim’s mother, Winifred, lived at Meadowlark Hill from 1998 until her death in 2013. 

If you’d like to know more about becoming a Legacy Society member, please contact Becky Fitzgerald,
Development Director, at 323-3843.