Ruth Cecelia Donahue Leonard 1917-2005

LEONARD, DONAHUE, MILLER, WRIGHT, WOLFE, HOEFT, HIGGINS, GILMAN, HYPES, CURRY

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/6/2011 at 21:07:19

Ruth Cecelia Donahue, the daughter of John and Mary (Molly Miller) Donahue, was born April 12, 1917, in Emmetsburg, Iowa. She died Wednesday, November 23, 2005, at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville, Iowa, at the age of 88 years.

She attended rural schools in the Emmetsburg area.

On September 25, 1935, Ruth was united in marriage to Leo Leonard in Emmetsburg. Following their marriage the couple farmed in the rural Emmetsburg area until 1949, when they moved into Emmetsburg where she was employed at Leland Larson's. In 1952, the family moved to Estherville where Ruth was employed at Butterfield Produce, Gray's Produce and then the Good Samaritan Center. She also worked for Berkley in Spirit Lake, Iowa until her retirement in 1981. Leo died in 1982.

She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church where she also belonged to the Catholic Daughters of America and the Altar and Rosary Society. Ruth enjoyed shopping, camping, fishing and especially spending time with her family.

Left to cherish Ruth's memory are her daughter, Lavonne Wright and husband, Norm of Estherville; four grandchildren, Linda Wolfe of Fairmont, Minnesota; Tim Wright of Estherville; Norm Wright and his wife, Tonya of Quinlan, Texas; Scott Wright and his wife, Lisa of Charles City, Iowa; seven great-grandchildren, Allen, Adam and Andrew Wolfe; Ryan, Randi, Zack and Jenna Wright; step-great-grandchildren, Cole and Austin Hoeft; and three sisters, Bernette Leonard; Patricia Higgins; and Dorothy Gilman all of Emmetsburg.

Preceding Ruth in death were her husband; her parents; and sisters, Mary Hypes and Berniece Curry.

Services at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Estherville with internment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Estherville. (Online)