Ruffridge, Norman

RUFFRIDGE, BARTH, ANDERSON

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2005 at 17:36:26

Funeral services for Norman Ruffridge, 83, of Pella were held September 26, at the Peace Lutheran Church in Pella, Pastor Kim Wills, presider and Mr. Richard Whitaker, reader. Music was provided by Mrs. Barb De Penning, organist and Mrs. Brenda Colvin, soloist.

Interment was at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Military rites by the U.S. Naval Reserve Forces Command and the American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella, Iowa. Casket bearers were Jaime Perez, Tracy Dungey, Dennis Ruffridge, Patrick Gallagher, Clair Halse and Bruce Soukup.

Norman Sylvester Ruffridge was born on February 7, 1919 at Decorah. He was the second of eight children that were born to Frank and Cora Barth Ruffridge. Norm graduated from the eighth grade at Decorah and then attended the Decorah High School. As a young boy he then began working at the Hotvedt Butcher Shop.

In November of 1940 Norm enlisted in the Armed Services. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a Pearl Harbor survivor. Ship's Cook First Class Norman Ruffridge was discharged a Chief Petty Officer in January of 1947.

Following his discharge, Norm was introduced to Neoma Marie Anderson by his brother, Orville Ruffridge. Norm and Neoma were united in marriage on May 30, 1948 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. To this union two children were born: Rhonda Louise and Rodney Lee. Following their marriage, Norm began managing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Club in Decorah. In 1952 they moved to Moline, Illinois where he was employed at the arsenal and then for Illinois Gas and Electric. They returned to Decorah in 1959 where Norm did construction work with his brother-in-law, Gerhard Anderson.

Norm and Neoma then ventured to Pella and purchased the A & W franchise. They built their restaurant in 1961 and continued to own and operate it until 1997. During these years, Norm served on the board of the A & W Iowa Association and on the National Advisory Council for A & W operators. Norm was admitted to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Knoxville in May of 2000.

On Sunday, September 22, he passed away at the age of 83 years, seven months and 15 days.

Norm was baptized as an infant on May 30, 1919 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Decorah. While living in the state of Illinois he had served on Lutheran Church boards. At the time of his death, Norm was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Pella.

He was a member of the Pearl Harbor Association, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Van Veen - Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella and the Pella Golf and Country Club. He enjoyed playing cards, particularly pitch, golfing and traveling.

He is survived by his wife, Neoma; their two children: Rhonda L. and her husband, Jaime Perez of Dover, Pennsylvania; Rodney L. Ruffridge of Otley; two sisters and a brother: Fern Dungey of New Hampton, Iowa; Palmer Ruffridge and his wife, Arla of Decorah; and Virginia Nelson and her husband, Eldon of Portage, Wisc.. Of Neoma's family, Norm leaves two sisters-in-law: Beatrice (Anderson) Halse of East Moline, Illinois and Ceceil (Anderson) Soukup and her husband, Jerome of Moline, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Cora Ruffridge; his oldest sister, Harriet Brom and his three brothers: Orville, Curtis and Gordon Ruffridge.

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

Memorials may be made to the Peace Lutheran Church in Pella or the Crime Prevention Program of the Pella Police Department in Pella.

The Pella Chronicle, October 3, 2002