Ruth E. Heike, 65, of Benton, WI passed away on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at her home. A memorial service will be held at 11:30am on Saturday August 28, 2010 at the Haudenshield Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Cuba City, WI, with Pastor Ed Jones officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Friends may call on Saturday from 9:30 am till time of service at the funeral home.

Ruth was born on August 7, 1945 to Elroy and Anola (Thomas) Berberich in Blue River, WI. On April 23, 1966 she married Jerome D. Heike in Madison, WI. She started working for the State of Wisconsin as a file clerk then decided to go to college. She graduated from the UW-Madison, the University of Michigan Law School (1984) and the UW-Madison Business School. She worked as an attorney for the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. After retiring from state service, Ruth volunteered as a mediator to help farmers who had legal problems. Ruth enjoyed traveling, reading, plays, cross stitching and time spent with family and friends. She was also active in BOW (Becoming An Outdoors-Woman).

Ruth is survived by her husband Jerome Heike of Benton, WI; sister Anna Mae Lessard of Prairie du Chien, WI and a brother Harold Berberich of Onalaska, WI; along with nieces and nephews, and her beloved dog Sophie.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Wilma Gardner, and a brother Royce Berberich.

In lieu of flowers a memorial contribution may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association. www.cancer.org/involved/donate https://donations.diabetes.org "Make a Memorial Donation."