Ruth Virginia Billen, age 82, passed away Sunday, October 29th, 2006, at St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged. She was born March 14, 1924, to Frank and Sylvia (Riley) Redfern in San Antonio, TX. She married Harold J. Billen on November 19, 1942 in Kenosha, WI. They were married 62 years at the time of his death on January 27, 2005. Besides her husband and parents, one brother, Don Redfern of Lima, OH, preceded her in death. Ruth is survived by her children, James H. Billen (Mary) of Los Alamos, NM, Janis Gorecki (Stanley) of Montague, MI, and John M. Billen (Carolina) of Las Vegas, NV. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Melissa Kuettner (Craig) of Portage, MI, and Laurie Billen of Chicago, IL. Ruth left Texas as a toddler, lived in Lima, OH, as a young child and moved to Kenosha, WI, as an adolescent. She attended Mary D. Bradford High School, graduating in June 1941. Ruth was an accounts payable clerk at American Motors/Chrysler for 23 ½ years, retiring May 1, 1986. She was an avid contract bridge player. She was a successful artist who worked in several mediums. She was a Project Literacy volunteer, who taught adults to read. According to her wishes, cremation has taken place.Visitation: Wednesday, November 29, 2006, 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Proko Funeral HomeMass: Thursday, November 30, 2006, 10:30 am at St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged Chapel, 9244-29th Avenue, Kenosha, WIMemorial: Alzheimer’s Research Headquarters, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60601, or online at www.alz.orgProko Funeral Home & Crematory5111-60th StreetKenosha, WI 53144Phone: (262) 654-3533www.prokofuneralhome.com