LATHAM, Ruth Marlis 1930 - 2016

LATHAM, RIERSON, PETERSON, GRUNDMEYER, KOPPS, SKUTTER, COOPER, THOMPSON

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 12/12/2017 at 23:07:02

Ruth M. Latham, 86, of Mason City, died June 27, 2016, at the Heritage Rehabilitation Center in Mason City.

A funeral service for Ruth will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 1, 2016, at Grace Evangelical Free Church, 440 N. Illinois Ave., Mason City, Iowa, with Pastor Curtis DeLong presiding.

Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.

A visitation will be held Thursday evening, June 30, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. NE, Mason City, Iowa.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be directed to the Ruth Latham Memorial Fund.

Ruth Marlis Latham, daughter of Lewis and Ellen (Rierson) Peterson and one of 10 children, was born Feb. 19, 1930, in Lake Mills, Iowa. She attended elementary school in Fertile before moving to Joice where she attended Junior and Senior High School.

She was baptized in the Winnebago Church near Forest City and was confirmed at the Bethel Church in Joice.

On Feb. 20, 1950, Ruth was united in marriage to Clifford Latham of Mason City in Sioux Falls, SD. They had one son, Daniel Latham.

She had many loves. First and foremost was her late husband of over 50 years and her family. She and Cliff loved to travel visiting their son and his family in Boston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. Their 50th wedding anniversary was celebrated by traveling to Nashville and enjoying the sights and sounds of Country Music USA.

She also loved playing cards and a Friday night 500 Declare Hand brought her ultimate joy. She loved baking her special chocolate chip and sugar cookies which were eagerly sought after by her granddaughters. She loved flowers, fishing, birds and gospel music. She loved most being a home maker and grandmother. Her three granddaughters held a special place in her heart.

Throughout her life she held many jobs. She worked at Deckers, Klipto, Unisys, American Sugar Beet, and Wood Harbor. After her husband passed away she went to work with the Foster Grandparents program at Charlie Brown Daycare. Her role was one she loved, that of a grandma rocking and caring for babies of working Moms. The nickname ‘Rocking Gramma’ fit her to a tee. She gave love to hundreds of babies over 15 years before failing health forced her retirement in late 2015 at the age of 85.

She was a longtime active member of the First Church of the Nazarene, Mason City. She served on the Board, taught Sunday School, managed the Missions Program, and served on numerous committees over the years.

She leaves behind her son, Daniel Latham and wife Debi of Mason City; Granddaughters Megan Latham of New York, NY, Jillian Latham of Mason City, and Mackenzie Grundmeyer and husband Kyle of Ankeny, Iowa, brother Ronald Peterson of Fort Dodge and twin sister Ruby Kopps of Mason City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Harland Peterson, Richard Peterson, Cecil Peterson, Gene Peterson, James Skutter; sisters, Lois Cooper and Marie Thompson.

Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. NE, Mason City, Iowa, 641-423-2372, ColonialChapels.com.