GERBER, V. Ruth (FERRIER)

FERRIER, GERBER, NELSON, RISTAU, NOVAK, WILLSHER, FIELDR, BRADBURY, AUCKER, FORBES, MCDONALD, BARNES

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/3/2018 at 23:54:28

Obituary ~ V. Ruth (Ferrier) Gerber
December 31, 1915 ~ January 26, 2003

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, January 27, 2003

MASON CITY -- V. Ruth Gerber, 87, of 2501 W. State St. died Sunday (Jan. 26, 2003) at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 419 N. Delaware Ave., with the Rev. Mark Lavrenz officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and continue one hour at the church before the service. Memorials may be given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Ruth was born Dec. 31, 1915, in Mason City, the oldest child of Ashley Earl Ferrier and Pearl L. Nelson Ferrier. She lived near Mason City for many years and near Rockford for about 20 years. She attended rural schools and graduated from Mason City High School.

She graduated from a two-year nursing program and practiced nursing at the IOOF Home in Mason City. Ruth was also engaged in farming.

She enjoyed traveling experiencing cruises and traveled with her sister, Helen, to Europe and Hawaii. She also enjoyed dining out and dancing. In her early years she enjoyed riding horseback, owning her own horses. The past year and one-half she enjoyed living at Homestead Assisted Living here in Mason City. She said the nurses and aides were the best.

She enjoyed reading, especially the library books Helen took to her. Ruth liked to see flowers grow and bloom. She had many African Violets and foliage plants when she and her husband, Elvin, lived on North California. [Ruth and Elvin married June 20, 1980, Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. Their honeymoon trip was to Europe.] At Homestead, she had many colorful artificial bouquets. For many years she collected fine glassware, plates, dolls and Santas. She loved to shop. In later years she would shop my mail, with as many as six catalogs coming in one day's mail.

Ruth was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and a circle member for many years. She was also a member of the Queen Rebekah Lodge, Farm Bureau and neighborhood clubs.

Ruth is survived by a sister, Helen Ristau and husband, Walter, of Mason City; nieces, Sharon Novak, Debra Hagen, Arlene Willsher, Kathleen Fielder, Bonnie Bradbury, and Scarlett Aucker; nephew, Donald Ferrier; cousins, Evelyn Nelson and LeNore Forbes; great-niece, Kelly McDonald; great-nephews, Timothy McMeen and Ryan Hagen; great-great-nephew, Dylan McDonald; special friend, Raymond Barnes of Britt.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elvin; and four brothers, Dale, Melvyn, Don and Milton.

Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, (641) 423-0924.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2018