RODGERS, Ruth E. (1925-2022)

RODGERS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/30/2023 at 19:28:08

Ruth Elizabeth Rodgers
(July 14, 1925 - July 11, 2022)

Services for Ruth Elizabeth Rodgers, 96, who passed away Monday, July 11, 2022 at Westview Care Center in Indianola, will be held 10 a.m., Friday, July 15, 2022, at the Indianola Church of Christ, with burial following in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery. As her life journey has ended, we remember what a wonderful life it has been, spanning a third of our independent nation’s history, 15 presidents, the Great Depression and 4 major military conflicts.
Ruth was born July 14, 1925, in Knoxville, Iowa, to John Norman Ream and Leah Lavonne (Collins) Ream. She grew up a part of the Veterans Hospital Community, as her father ran the dairy barn. She had great stories of bowling, playing cards and other experiences, with the patients. The guards also liked to see her running around and frequently snuck her candy from the vending machines. She also enjoyed a warm home life with her sisters, Marie and Ella, and her brother, Jay. She enjoyed roller skating and playing the baritone in band, earning a college scholarship, but chose not to go to college. Her childhood home was open to many friends and during the hard times of the Depression an extra meal was always ready at the door for a person in need. Ruth graduated from the Knoxville High School in 1944 during WWII and watched her beloved brother, Jay, volunteer for and lose his life in service. After high school, Ruth worked for a time at the Marion County Courthouse and even worked one day in Texas as an elevator operator. Ruth also enjoyed attending the Community Dances at Redman Hall, where she met her husband. On February 27, 1947, she married Leo Alvin Rodgers. They were on a road trip looking for tractor parts, when they stepped into the Christian Church Parsonage on Kickapoo Street in Hiawatha, Kansas, to be wed, with their life-long friend, Ted Wright, along as witness. They were blessed to be married 54 years before Leo’s death in 2001. The city girl became a farmer’s wife, and despite her father’s fears, jumped right into milking cows, raising hogs and chickens, and raising large gardens. She helped with selling cream and ran an egg route for many years. As the years progressed and Leo helped, the gardens became truck patches and they provided loads of fresh food for many. She loved her many fruit trees, grapes vines, and melon, strawberry and blackberry patches. After 8 years of health issues, this union was blessed with 3 daughters Ann, Nancy and Janie, who have been her dear friends all her life. Over the years, she took great joy in their lives, schooling, and later her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved fishing and spent hours at the pond and prepared fish for many meals, but never ate any fish herself. She served faithfully with the Motor Friends Ladies Aid and enjoyed serving meals at the cattle barn in Humeston. Ruth had a great joy for friends and having fun and enjoyed family gatherings, the Milo 4th of July Celebration, and card nights. In later years, she found a great love for camping, especially at Glenn’s Acres, joined the Dancing Grand Dandies, and continued her lifetime love of girls’ basketball, eventually being named “Fan of the Year” at the Indianola High School. In her retirement, Ruth served with the Warren County Election Board. Ruth accepted the Lord and was baptized at the Disciples of Christ Church in Knoxville, Iowa at age 11. While on the farm, she raised her children at Motors Friends Church and later attended the Christian Union Church in Milo. In retirement, Ruth has been a part of the Indianola Church of Christ.
Ruth is survived by her daughters, Ann (Doug) Sawyers of Indianola, Nancy (Greg) Sharp of Dallas Center, and Linda “Janie” Rodgers of Indianola; 6 grandchildren, Monica (Branden) Martin, Indianola, Cathy (Andrew) Mercer, Ankeny, Maressa (Chris) Scherb, Earlham; Carl (Abbie) Sharp, Minburn, Kaleb Sharp, Dallas Center, Allison (Josiah) Schurter, Redfield; 8 great-grandchildren, Drew and Tyson Martin, Grayson Mercer, Jacob, Liam and London Thacker, Preston and Hosea Schurter; sister, Ella McDermott, Sioux City; sister-in-law, Marjorie Rodgers, Indianola; 8 nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Rodgers; parents, John “Norman” and Leah (Collins) Ream; in-laws, Vance and Georgia (Jesse) Rodgers; siblings, spouses and in-laws, Lois “Marie” (Ream) and Charles Johnson, Jay Francis Ream, Robert McDermott, Helen (Rodgers) and John McElwee, Hilda (Rodgers) and Loren Perry, Alice “Louise” (Rodgers) and Chester Walker, Cecil “Dean” Rodgers; 6 nieces and nephews, and 5 little ones (3 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren) by miscarriage, that are hugging grandma in Heaven today. Visitation will be held 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 14, 2022, at the church. Memorials may be given in her name to Miracle League of Ankeny or C.E.F. Camp Good News. [This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]