Ruth Hatfield, 86, died December 28, 2010, at Promise Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson. She was born December 20, 1924, in Madison, Ill., the daughter of John and Della Delova Mircheff.
Ruth was christened in Holy Trinity Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church, Madison, Ill.; she was a 1943 graduate of Madison High School, Madison, Ill. Ruth and Kent raised their three daughters in Kinsley, Halstead and Hutchinson. She had been employed by the U.S. Navy, Hutchinson Public Schools and was the head of the Arts and Printing Department at the Hutchinson Public Library.

On June 16, 1944, she married Kent Hatfield in Chattanooga, Tenn., while he was serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. He survives. Other survivors include: their three daughters and spouses, Georgene and Ron Karst of Blue Springs, Mo., Charlotte Hatfield, Ph.D., of Marietta, Ohio, and Kristen and Brent Anderson of Hutchinson; a sister, Georgia Mircheff of Granite City, Ill.; five grandchildren, Andrew Karst, Jonathan and Michele Karst, Elizabeth and Justin Alexander, all of Blue Springs, Mo., Tracee and Jim Sowers, Todd Anderson, all of Lawrence; three great-grandchildren, Kara Gene and Adelyn Karst and Anderson Sowers. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Chris Mircheff.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Friday, December 31, 2010, at Elliott Chapel with Reverend Jim Rhaesa officiating. Burial will be in Fairlawn Burial Park.

Friends may call 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday. Family will be present from 10 a.m. until service time Friday, all at Elliott Mortuary. Memorial gifts may be made to the Hutchinson Public Library in care of the mortuary.

Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a condolence or remembrance for her family.