Ask any of Ruth Menefee’s offspring, and they will tell you just the thought of her vegetable soup conjures up warm and fuzzy memories.

Growing up south of Fontanelle, family meals, community and church dinners and farm labor feedings were part of life. And most often included soup.

“She would give it to family, friends, neighbors, just for the pleasure of knowing they enjoyed it,” says Bill Menefee of Atlantic. Her kids often joked it was so good they should sell it.

But it wasn’t until Ruth’s death in 2009 that the idea began to take hold. “I was on my way back to Fontanelle from Atlantic to...