Westerberg, Ruth V. (1934-2018)

WESTERBERG, BRANSTAD, CARLSON, NELSON, MILBRANDT, MURKEN, SMITH, KREMER, ROMINE, PENNING, LINDBLOOM, HELVICK, NEWELL

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 10/12/2018 at 13:34:48

Ruth Vivian Westerberg
June 29, 1934 - July 28, 2018

Ruth V. Westerberg, 84, of rural Leland, died on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

A daughter of Rudolph W. (Ral) and Antoinette (Carlson) Branstad, Ruth Vivian Westerberg was born on June 29, 1934, at home on the family farm near Leland, Iowa. She attended school in Leland through the 8th grade and then Forest City High School, graduating in 1952. Next, she enrolled at the Iowa Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated in 1955 with a diploma as a registered nurse.

On August 28, 1955, Ruth married her high school sweetheart, Ralph Westerberg, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Leland where she had been baptized and confirmed. She, then, started work as a nurse at the Forest City Community Hospital, a position she held until 1980 when health issues forced her to retire. Very active at Immanuel Lutheran Church, she taught Sunday School, participated in women’s Bible study, led many lessons at Circle, and served as a Stephen Minister and as president of the Ladies’ Aide. A 4-H leader and a foster parent, she took the time to become involved in many of her girls’ activities. Best of all, however, she loved to sew and read.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Ralph Westerberg, of Leland; her daughters: Deb (Lyle) Nelson, Ruth Ann (David) Milbrandt, and Carol (David) Murken; eight grandchildren: Katie (Chad) Kremer; Mark and Steven Milbrandt; Antoinette and Derek (Beth) Murken; Kristine (Reece) Penning; Renae (Adam) Romine; and Emily (Jay) Smith; five great-grandchildren: Annabelle and John Kremer; Clayton Murken; and Vivienne and Britta Smith; a brother, Dennis Branstad; and a sister-in-law, Lois Ann Lindbloom; as well as by many nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters: Ardis Helvick, Margey Newell, and Nita Mae Branstad; and a brother, Rollin (Bud) Branstad.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, August 3, 2018, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 246 South Clark Street, Forest City, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Visitation will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Thursday, August 2, 2018, at the Cataldo Schott Funeral Chapel, 505 North Clark Street, Forest City, Iowa 50436. Burial will follow in Mt. Valley Luther Lutheran Cemetery, rural Leland, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church and Mayo Clinic Hospice.

Cataldo Schott Funeral Home, Forest City, Iowa, 2018.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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