Anderson, Ruth E. (1925-2015)

ANDERSON, LATHROP, WESTERGREN, NICHOLSON, THOMAS, DUNEKACKE, KNAPP, SCHABLE, DEIMERLY

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/24/2015 at 13:07:25

Ruth E. Anderson
October 11, 1925 - January 4, 2015

Ruth Anderson, age 89, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on Sunday, January 4, 2015, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake.

Ruth Elaine Lathrop was born on October 11, 1925, on a farm near Plover, Iowa, and moved with her parents to the Havelock area at the age of 6. She attended school at Havelock, Iowa, and received an emergency teaching certificate from Buena Vista College in 1945. She taught business classes and physical education and coached girls’ basketball as well in Ware, Iowa.

She met Richard Anderson from Storm Lake while attending college. They married on May 31, 1946, in Havelock, Iowa, and built a small home on the Anderson family farm. In 1948, they rented a farm near Nemaha, Iowa, and in 1959, Rich and Ruth realized their dream of buying their own farm south of Early where they raised their six daughters. In 1992, they moved to Storm Lake.

Ruth and Rich enjoyed gardening, playing cards, participating in social activities, spending time with their children and grandchildren, and traveling to visit relatives and friends and to see the sights. Providing leadership along the way, Ruth also participated in several church and community organizations. They included the Nemaha Methodist Church, the Early United Methodist Church, and the Storm Lake United Methodist Church where she held several local and district offices in the United Methodist Women. A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, multiple book and card clubs, and Rebecca, she also served as a 4-H leader. She was very active with farm life while raising her family. She was proud that all of her daughters graduated from college. In her spare time, Ruth worked as a bookkeeper and helped prepare taxes at H&R Block and for her friends.

Ruth is survived by her daughters, Judy (Larry) Westergren, of Marion, Iowa, Jan (Joe) Nicholson, of Dunwoody, Georgia, Lois (Mike) Thomas, of Omaha, Nebraska, Karen (Tom) Dunekacke, of Elk Creek, Nebraska, Colleen (Steve) Knapp, of Sioux City, Iowa, and Lynn (Ray) Schable, of Storm Lake, Iowa; her grandchildren: Brenda Westergren Deimerly; Taylor, Travis, and Tracy Dunekacke; Anna, Curtis, Emily, and Jackie Knapp; Andrew and Brent Nicholson; Jake and Tanya Schable; Jason, Megan, and Steve Thomas; and David and Sarah Westergren; as well as eleven great grandchildren.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a stillborn son, and her sister, Lucille.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 9, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Burial will take place at a later date in the Early Union Cemetery in Early, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2015, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Copyright © 2015, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes

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