Evelyn Ruth Ryan 1920 - 2006

RYAN, HANSON, PETERSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/25/2017 at 00:09:04

Sioux City Journal
8 February 2006

SMITHLAND, Iowa -- Evelyn Ruth Ryan, 85, of Moreno Valley, Calif., formerly of Smithland, died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, at her residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at United Methodist Church in Smithland. Burial will be in Little Sioux Township Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton, Iowa. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church.

Evelyn Ruth Ryan was born March 28, 1920, in Dows, Iowa, the daughter of Elmer Oliver and Millie Josephine (Hanson) Peterson. She graduated from Dows High School with the class of 1938.

She was married to Leonard George Ryan in 1938, in Clarion, Iowa. To this union, three daughters and four sons were born. The couple made their home in Smithland. Along with caring for her family, she was employed outside of the home as a nurse's aide, working at Maple Heights Nursing Home in Mapleton, Iowa from 1970 to 1977. She also worked at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Whiting, Iowa, from 1977 to 1982. Leonard died Jan. 4, 1983. After moving to Moreno Valley, Calif., she worked at Magnolia Convalescent Home in Riverside, Calif., from 1986 to 1993. She retired in 1993 in order to be with her grandchildren.

She was a member of United Methodist Church in Smithland and the Ladies Aid Society. She was later a member of the Wesleyan Christian Fellowship in Moreno Valley, Calif.

Survivors include three daughters, Janet Samler of Sun City, Calif., Donna and her husband, Charles Gries of Fruitland, Iowa, and Tamara and her husband, Brian Riggenbach of Moreno Valley Calif.; four sons and their wives, Vern and Barbara Ryan of Leona Valley, Calif., Terry and Sandra Ryan of Crestline, Calif., Lynn and Sue Ryan of Sioux City, and Marty and Lori Ryan of Loveland, Colo.; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Harold Peterson of Hampton, Iowa.

Along with her husband, she was also preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Caroline Warwick, Esther Hacker and Mildred Snow; and two brothers, Lucien and Orville "Bud" Peterson.

Memorials in her name may be directed to United Methodist Church of the Log Cabin in Smithland.