Ruth Ethel Gorton McDonald 1902-1986

MCDONALD, GORTON, FRANK, RALEIGH, SCHENCK

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/24/2013 at 00:06:13

Ruth McDonald
Estherville – Services for Mrs. John (Ruth) McDonald, 83, will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Tom Balm officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. She died Thursday, Jan. 16, 1986 at Holy Family Hospital.

Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Ethel Gorton was born Sept. 28, 1902 on a farm near Estherville, and was the daughter of George Leonard and Kathryn (Frank) Gorton. She attended Estherville schools graduating from Estherville High School in 1922 and was the class salutatorian. She attended the University of Iowa three years. On Feb. 24, 1925 she was united in marriage with John Boyd McDonald at Estherville. She lived in the Estherville area her entire life and was one of the first organizers of 4-H Clubs in Emmet County and a 4-H leader many years. She was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church and member of the U.M.W.

Survivors include one son Ralph E. McDonald, Estherville and a daughter Mrs. Gordon (Jean) Raleigh, Storm Lake; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Floyd (Esther) Schenck, Estherville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband who died in 1931; one niece and one nephew. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 18, 1986)