TOPEKA — Idalia M. Ruiz, 90 years of age, was born in Calabazar de Sagua, Villa Clara, Cuba. She died at Midland Hospice, Topeka, on January 31, 2020, after a lengthy illness. She was the youngest and only daughter of Nolasco Moreno and Maria Moreno Crespo, and grew up in the company of her 4-year-old brother. 

For the first school years, she attended Calabazar De Sagua School District and the family looking for better school facilities, moved to Sagua La Grande, where she attended the Polytechnique school. She enrolled in the state teachers college at Villa Clara, Cuba, where she graduated four years later with a teaching degree and began working in Sagua La Grande School district, Cuba. During this time, she attended Havana University Educational School with the goal of getting her Ph.D. degree in education. She was one year short of completion and because of political reasons, she resigned her school position and moved to the United States in 1962, with her two oldest daughters. Her husband, Carlos M. Ruiz, M.D., escaped from Cuba at the same time and the family reunited in Miami, Fla., before coming to Kansas in 1963, where their third daughter was born. 

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Great Bend, Kan., until her death. In the United States, she was a homemaker who enjoyed painting, gardening and traveling to Spain, Italy. 

Survivors include, her husband, Carlos M. Ruiz, M.D., of 65 years; three daughters, Idalia Duncan of Topeka, Maria Nold and husband Mark of Virginia Beach, Va., and Margaret Montgomery and husband Chris of Richmond, Va.; five grandchildren, Justin Penka, Alisha Penka, Nathan Penka, Kate Montgomery and Julia Montgomery; and two great-grandchildren, Bryson Penka and Brantley Penka. She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Miguel Moreno. 

There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m., Thursday, February 6, 2020, at Bryant Funeral Home. Graveside Service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, February 6, 2020, at the Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, Kan. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church or American Cancer Society, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 2, 2020