Ruth was the third child born to Helene and Johann Schaumberger. Her mother's family was from Germany and her father emigrated from Austria. European and Pennsylvania Dutch cultural values of fine handiwork and high standards of homemaking were instilled in Ruth from an early age. She excelled academically, graduating with Highest Honors in the Science Curriculum at Cass Tech in Detroit. She aspired to be a physician. Ruth was an avid reader, played piano at church, and attended the opera with her father. She lost both her parents to illness by age 18. Her brother, Joe, looked after her until she moved to Seattle where her oldest brother, John, and his wife, Mary, had settled.

Ruth continued her education at the University of Washington, earning a BS in Home Economics and a Teaching Certificate, options available to women at the time. She met her future husband, Ted, at the Skandia Folkdance Club while they were students at the U of W. They married in 1951. She taught Home Ec to junior high school students back East and in Palo Alto. Ruth was admitted to a graduate program at UC Berkeley where she studied textiles and design. Later in life she earned a BS in Accounting to manage Ted's business.

Ruth had a keen sense of design and color with a simple and elegant aesthetic. Weaving was an intellectual and creative pursuit. She learned techniques to create complex patterns that she brought to life with her exceptional workmanship. She also dyed and spun fibers, knit sweaters, and wove hand towels and baby blankets. A long time member of the Seattle Weavers Guild, she served as President in the 1970s and later became an Honorary Member. She belonged to the Whidbey Island Weavers Guild for several decades where she participated in workshops and made good friends

Ruth was enthusiastic and industrious, and had a zest for life. She took an academic interest in her exploration of handicrafts, health and nutrition, and her family genealogy. Language and literature were lifelong pleasures. She and Ted particularly enjoyed opera and early music and attended many concerts. They hiked and backpacked in the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Iceland, traveled to places such as Turkey, Mexico and Antarctica and visited family in Austria, Iceland and Denmark.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Theodore (Ted) Beck. She is survived by her daughters, Randi Beck and Maren Beck (Josh Hirschstein) and grandchildren Ari and Zall, and her niece, Susan Hogue.