Ruth (Pladsen) Toney - 1911-1997

PLADSEN, NESS, TONEY, KLEPPEK, TUKE, OHLIN

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 9/19/2011 at 13:11:56

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa WAUKON STANDARD, May 21, 1997
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Funeral services for Ruth Hazel Toney, age 86, were held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 19 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, Iowa with the Rev. Lynn Groe officiating. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery, Waukon, Iowa with Martin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Casket bearers were James Wooden, Merlin Kruger, Lynn Morrow, Marvin Strike, Truman Wurtzel, and Sigurd Ness. Honorary bearers were LeRoy Schmidt, Emmett Sullivan, George Pickett, George Huffey, Howard Ness, Roy Loven, Allen Goeke, George Wood, and Gerald Baxter.

Ruth Hazel, daughter of William Olaf and Hannah Mathilda (Ness) Pladsen, was born March 15, 1911 in Waterville, Iowa. Ruth graduated from the Waterville High School and attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. On April 6, 1937 she married Jesse Toney at Waterville Lutheran Church. Since then Ruth has lived in Waukon, Iowa. She and Jesse made a home for his nephew, Emerson Toney for 25 years. Ruth was a precinct woman for her ward for the Republican Party from 1945-1962 and county vice-chairman from 1962-1974. During World War II she was a county officer of the Red Cross Board and has been past chairman of the Christmas Seals organization for the city of Waukon. She was a member of the Veterans Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, secretary of the hospital's advisory board and served as a Pink Lady. At the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, Ruth was a member of the advisory board and chairman of the Care Review Committee.

Ruth was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church and sang in the choir for 50 years as well as being active in the Women's organizations and other committees. Ruth was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star and had served as secretary for 25 years. She was also a 50-year member and former officer of Browning Club. She was very active in Lutheran Brotherhood, Allamakee Branch 8370. Ruth also volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul store in Waukon. She enjoyed gardening and loved staying in touch with her family.

Ruth Hazel Toney died Thursday, May 15, 1997 at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jesse; her sister, Olive and husband James Wyse; brothers, Leslie Pladsen and Rudolph Pladsen; and her nephews, Emerson Toney, William Wyse and his wife, Diane Wyse.

Ruth is survived by a niece and her husband, Ruth Ann and Henry Kleppek of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; 4 grandnieces, Julie (Chip) Tuke, Kim (Mark) Ohlin, Michele Wyse, and Kay Kleppek; 2 grandnephews, Kurt Kleppek and Karl (Lisa) Kleppek; and 4 great-grand-nieces and nephews.