Ruth van Erp 1965 - 2012 HOLYOKE - Ruth van Erp, 46, passed away at her home on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 with loved ones at her side. Ruth was born in Mountain View, California on September 3, 1965. Daughter of Marianna (Wieder) van Erp of Milwaukee and the late Dirk van Erp of San Francisco (and great-granddaughter of prominent Arts & Crafts movement metalsmith Dirk van Erp), Ruth was educated in Mountain View schools and later attended UC Berkeley where she attained her BA in Fine Arts. Ruth moved to New York City where she received her MA in Fine Arts from NYU in 1990. She later worked for the Parsons School of Design and the New School in New York. Ruth settled in western Massachusetts and worked in advancement at Smith College from 1997 to 2007. As an artist and teacher, Ruth was a beloved member of the Snow Farm community. The greatest joy of her life was being a mother and teacher to her beloved daughter, Bennett Ranger van Erp. In addition to her daughter and mother, Ruth leaves behind her partner of ten years, Patricia Bennett of Holyoke; her brother, William van Erp of Mountain View, California; her three sisters, Janna Mori of Santa Barbara, California; Joanne Montague of Bellevue, Washington; and Mary Bythell of Newcastle, England; many other extended family members, and many dear friends and colleagues. Ruth's family is grateful to the staff at Cancer Connection for their dedicated care and concern. A service will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012, at noon in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 485 Appleton St., Holyoke. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ruth's name may be made to Cancer Connection, 41 Locust St, Northampton, MA 01060.