Ruden, Raphael M. (1923-2007)

RUDEN, GEOTZINGER, PAULIN, NEY, MOUSEL, BUSH, AHLERS, WOLL, HOSS, MADSEN

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/29/2008 at 10:47:04

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, July 6, 2007

Ray Ruden, a Plymouth County native and lifelong farmer, of rural Struble, died at his home Thursday July 5, 2007, at the age of 84.

Raphael M. Ruden was born May 12, 1923, at Oyens, the son of Joseph and Mary (Goetzinger) Ruden. He grew up at Oyens and attended St. Catherine's Parochial School. Ray worked as a farmhand for several years prior to his marriage to Lorraine Hoss on June 6, 1944 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars. Following their marriage the couple farmed their entire married lives in Plymouth County and had farmed near Struble since 1956.

His main passion in farming was feeding cattle. Ray was always extremely proud of his children's accomplishments, his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ray was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Struble, where he had been a director for many years. He was also an honorary life member of the 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus, Trinity Council 1466 and had served on the Gehlen Catholic School Board for many years.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Lorraine Ruden of rural Struble; seven children: Larry Ruden and his wife Sharon of Le Mars, Helen Renken and her husband Dennis of Le Mars, Herb Ruden and his wife Linda of Estherville, Gary Ruden and his wife Kathy of Le Mars, Bob Ruden and his special friend Kay DeBoer of Marcus, Bev Paulin and her husband Bud of Alexandria, Minn., and Philip Ruden and his wife Linda of Omaha, Neb.; a son-in-law Don Ney of Granville; 29 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Eldon Ruden and his wife Mildred of Le Mars and Tom Ruden and his wife Marva of East Alton, Ill.; four sisters: Mary Ann Mousel of Le Mars, Erma Bush of Cleghorn, Cy Ahlers and her husband Robert and Jeanne Woll and her husband Larry, all of Le Mars; in-laws: Bonnie Ruden, Don and Freda Hoss and Mildred Hoss, all of Le Mars; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two daughters: Bonnie Ney and a daughter in infancy; daughter-in-law Joanie Ney; grandson Terry Ney; his parents Joseph and Mary Ruden; four brothers: Silvius, Harold, Walter and Joe; and a sister Florence Madsen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Struble, with the Rev. Daniel Grieving officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Joseph's Church in Struble where there will be a Parish rosary at 4 p.m., a Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus rosary at 8 p.m. Visitation will resume on Monday morning for one hour prior to the Mass in the Parish Hall of the Church.

The Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars will be handling the arrangements for Ray Ruden's family.