Ruth Y. Hofling 1956-2012

HOFLING GAGNON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/11/2012 at 20:33:59

Sioux City Journal
February 12, 2012

SIOUX CITY -- Ruth Y. Hofling, 55, of Sioux City made her final journey home on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, after a long illness, wrapped in the first blanket given through the Blankets of Hope Program at St. Luke's Hospital.

Celebration of life services will be 11:30 a.m. Monday at Whitfield United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Sylvia Kennedy officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Monday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service.

Ruth was born May 17, 1956, to Frederick and Leila Gagnon of Sioux City. She graduated from North High School.

She married Greg Hofling, and her only daughter, Carrie Sue, was born to that union. Ruth and Carried moved to Garland, Texas, and spent Carrie's early years there with the Schanke Family. Ruth and Carrie returned to Sioux City to start a new life with the love and support of her Big Sister Judy Hinds, who was her best friend to the end.

Ruth will be best remembered as an aspiring artist who, in her 20s, loved to paint landscapes in both oils and water colors. A rare eye condition left her legally blind when she was a young woman. Despite this obstacle, she continued to do what she enjoyed most by mastering the art of working under a powerful magnifying light. Her artwork was beautiful because she was a perfectionist in everything she did. Many people in our community are still enjoying her craft work.

She painted pumpkins at Halloween at Clausen's Truck Farm for many years. Ruth could turn an ordinary light bulb into snowmen of all shapes and sizes. She loved to scrapbook and let the grandkids mess in her supplies. She enjoyed sharing her talent and made donations of her work to various organizations for gifts and door prizes. Her favorite project the past several years was making a monthly craft for the kids' food trays at the Shrine Hospital in Minneapolis.

She was a member of Whitfield United Methodist Church, where her artwork can be found throughout but most noticeably, the Noah's Ark wall in the nursery.

Left to cherish her memories is her daughter, Carrie and son-in-law Andy Nelson, and her three grandchildren, Marcus, Madison and Macaden, referring to them as her favorite M&Ms. She is also survived by five sisters, Judy (Kenny) Hinds, Lois Barnes, her twin sister, Renee Gagnon, Tonya (Ed) LeClair and Heather (Russ) Rollins; and two brothers, Fred "Tony" (Renee) Gagnon and Gary Gagnon. She will be missed by her senior companion, Ruth Brooks, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, extended family and friends that love her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, Al and Harold Gagnon, and also her beloved seeing-eye dog, Austin VI, who was her constant companion for many years, and is once again by her side.

Expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family.