April 21, 2006
Mrs. Ruth S. Karcesky, retired missionary to Indonesia (Irian Jaya), went to be with the Lord April 12, 2006, in Waxhaw, North Carolina. She was 78 years old. Mrs. Karcesky, along with her husband Raymond (Ben), served as missionaries with The Christian and Missionary Alliance from 1956 to 1995.
Ben and Ruth met at Missionary Training Institute in Nyack, New York, and were married soon after graduating. After finishing their home service in Oklahoma and attending language study, they sailed for Irian Jaya in the fall of 1956. They began their missionary career in a village called Seinma, which required the crossing of a rickety swinging bridge to get there. Later they helped carve out a small airstrip on a ledge above the Baliem River. There they learned the Dani language and made close friends with the village chief and people.
Ben and Ruth also served as house parents at the MK school at Sentani, translated Scripture, mimeographed volumes of translated material, and served as field bookkeeper on several occasions. Ruth, a registered nurse, found that her medical experience served their ministry well wherever they lived.
Many years were spent at Hetigima, the first mission station built in the Baliem Valley. There they opened a Bible school, carefully prepared materials, and taught and discipled Dani men and women who later went to far away villages to preach the gospel. Ruth had a particular passion for the women and taught them literacy and the Bible. The Karceskys played an integral part in bringing a people from darkness into the light of the gospel and in training men and women to carry on the ministry in Irian Jaya.
The funeral service was held Friday, April 14, 2006, at Gospel Way Church in Waxhaw, North Carolina. Rev. Michael Keener officiated, and Rev. H. Myron Bromley, retired missionary to Indonesia, represent International Ministries at the service.
Surviving are her husband, Ben; daughters Lydia Paquette and Naomi Leenhouts; sons Benjamin Karcesky and Nathan Karcesky; grand children and great-grand children.