Dingeman, Ruth I. (Hoagland)

DINGEMAN, HOAGLAND, HEVLIN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2005 at 17:08:07

Funeral services for Mrs. Ruth I. Dingeman, 97, of Pella were held July 30 at the First Baptist Church in Pella, the Rev. John McNabb officiating. Choice of music was recorded selections by the Statler Brothers.

Interment was at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Casket bearers were her "Grandsons". Honorary casket bearer was her grandson Olaf Carlson.

Ruth Irene Hoagland, the sixth of nine children born to James and Laura Hevlin Hoagland, was born on December 25, 1904, north of a little village called Fairmount in Jasper County near Monroe, Iowa. Her father had run away from his home in Illinois and when he was 21 years of age came riding into Fairmount on an old cow pony with five dollars in his pocket.

Her mother was only five feet tall and was a hard working woman, who always raised 500 to 1000 young chickens and had a big garden or two and usually a big truck patch in one of the fields for larger vegetables. She died at the age of 73 years when she caught her clothes on fire.

Her father had died some years earlier of cancer. Ruth had many wonderful years on that farm near Fairmount where they always had company.

Ruth walked to a country school one and one half miles from their home where she attended grade school. She graduated from Monroe High School in Monroe with perfect attendance.

On December 25, 1922 she was united with Daniel Dingeman at Newton, Iowa. To this union nine children were born: Marvin William "Bob", Muriel Jean "Turl", Hershel Wayne "Squirt", Betty Lorraine "Betts", Uella Mae "Maisey", James Henry "Jim", Priscilla Irene "Perk", Daniel Duane "Ikey" and Paul Eugene "Pee Wee". Following their marriage they lived at Monroe for a few years and in 1929 moved to Pella. Ruth, and her husband, known as Dan, provided for a very large family. Dan began trucking sand and gravel and it was at this time the Pella Construction Company had its beginning. Ruth devoted her time and energy to raising their nine children and was a very dedicated homemaker.

On October 28, 1961 Dan passed away suddenly at his home, 601 South Street in Pella, at the age of 60 years. He had been very active in community affairs and at the time of his death was associated with his five sons in the operation of the business. Following his death, Ruth continued to live in their home and remained the matriarch of the family.

In May of 1998 she was admitted to Inn Care at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella and was then cared for in the Long Term Care Unit where she passed away suddenly Thursday evening, July 25, 2002 seven months following the observance of her 97th birthday. Ruth was a product of many nationalities: Dutch, English, German, Irish, a little French and perhaps others.

She had been a member of the Methodist Church in Monroe and appreciated The Statler Brothers music. She enjoyed gardening, raising flowers, square dancing, fishing and playing canasta.

Surviving children are: M. Jean and Donald Thomas of Winterset; Hershel W. and A. Gene Leon Dingeman of Pella; Betty L. and Tom Carlson of Evanston, Illinois; Uella M. and R. Bill Peters of Pella; James H. and Nancy Van Maanen Dingeman of Pella; Priscilla I. (Dingeman) Steenhoek of Otley; D. Duane and Goldie Gritters Dingeman of Pella; and daughter-in-law, Judi In't Veld Owens Dingeman of Pella; and 35 grandchildren, 69 great-grandchildren, 15 great-great-grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren, 14 step-great-grandchildren and one step-great-great-grandchild.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel; two sons: her oldest son Marvin W. and his wife Betty Dingeman; her youngest son, Paul E. Dingeman; a son-in-law, Duane "Doc" Steenhoek; and three grandsons: Kurtis Peters, Robert Danny Peters and David Dingeman. "Ruthie" was the last surviving member of her original family. Also preceding her in death were her parents, James and Laura Hoagland; and all her brothers and sisters: Charles Hoagland, Earl "Jack" Hoagland, Ralph "Speck" Hoagland, Mabel Cooper, Raymond "Beedie" Hoagland, Marguerite Eveline "Mugs" Van Der Veer, Edith Faye "Puss" Van Ekeren and Marion LeRoy "Spider" Hoagland.

Arrangements were handled by Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home in Pella.

The Pella Chronicle, August 16, 2002