CHRISTENSEN, Ruby D.

CHRISTENSEN, BETCHER, KRUSE, JOHNSON, CUTHRELL, YOUNG

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 9/12/2006 at 11:38:53

Ruby D. Christensen

AURELIA, Iowa -- Ruby D. Christensen, 96, of Cherokee, Iowa, formerly of Aurelia, died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006, at Cherokee Villa Nursing and Rehab Center.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Aurelia, with the Rev. Harold Werley officiating. Burial will be in Elk Township Cemetery, rural Alta, Iowa. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today at Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia.

Ruby Delphine Kruse was born on a farm near Alta, Iowa, on Aug. 13, 1909, to Gust and Emma (Betcher) Kruse. As a child, she and her brother, Raymond, moved with their parents to Aurelia, where she attended school. She graduated from Aurelia High School in 1927.

In 1934, she married Bernard Johnson and they made their home in Aurelia. Bernard passed away in 1959. She married Rasmus Christensen on June 12, 1975, in Aurelia. Rass passed away Jan. 31, 1989. She continued to live in her home until she moved to The Cherokee Villa.

She was employed for many years as a checker at the Kruse Grocery Store, owned by her brother, Raymond, in Aurelia. She later worked as a waitress at the Johnson Cafe in Aurelia, as well as the D&R Lunch and Speelmon's Steak House in Cherokee. She also was a waitress for the Arrow Cafe in Cherokee. She enjoyed being a homemaker, too, and spent much of her time taking care of her father and her uncle, Fabian, for several years. She will be remembered as someone who was always willing to help others.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was involved with the Women's Society of Christian Service. She was a faithful member of the Pythian Sisters for many years. Her hobbies included baking, knitting, crocheting and gardening.

Survivors include a niece and her husband, Janice and Ron Cuthrell of Colorado Springs, Colo.; three nephews, Tom Kruse and his wife, Judy of Cherokee, Don Kruse and his wife, Jean of Longville, Minn., and Roger Kruse of Houston, Texas; two great-nieces, Lori and her husband, Bill Young of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Stacy Kruse of Omaha; and two great-nephews, Scott Kruse and his wife, Judy of Hoffman Estates, Ill., and Tim Cuthrell and his special friend, Annie of Crosby, Minn.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bernard; her husband, Rasmus; and a brother, Raymond Kruse.