Ruth Marjorie (Melvin) ROTHOVE

ROTHOVE, HAINES, MELVIN, CHILDS, FREEZE, DIDIO, PETERSON, FRETTE, BURTNESS, HAUGEBAK, JASPERS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/6/2007 at 11:20:43

Ruth Marjorie Rothove, 89, of Northwood, died on Sunday (May 6, 2001) at her residence. The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at Elk Creek Lutheran Church in Kensett with the Rev. Selmer Hernes officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Manly. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in Northwood.

Ruth Marjorie Rothove was born in Checotah, Okla., on Sept. 9, 1911 to Chester Walter and Anna Cecelia (Haines) Melvin. Ruth graduated from high school at Clarion, Iowa, in 1929 and also graduated from Fort Dodge School of Cosmetology in Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1941. She then worked as a practical nurse at Clarion General Hospital from 1942-1943. She then enlisted in the WAACs on Aug. 24, 1943, and served in Louisville, Ky. Where she worked as an occupational therapist. She was discharged on Dec. 10, 1945. Ruth married Francis Rothove in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 6, 1943. They both served in World War II, with Ruth earning a Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, WAAC Service Medal. Ruth and Frank started farming in Wright County in 1946 and finally settled in Worth County in 1955. They continued to farm until Frank's retirement in 1980. Ruth was active in Farm Bureau Women where she held many offices. She was active in 4-H where she was a leader and worked with the horticultural department as superintendent. She received the Worth County Alumni Award in 1988. She was active in the church where she was president of the Rosary Society and held many other offices. In recent years, Ruth lived in Northwood at the Maple Court Apartments, where she enjoyed playing cards with her many friends and visiting. Ruth was an avid reader and supported both Kensett and Hanlontown libraries.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three brothers, Walter, Chester and Wayne Melvin; three sisters, Allie Childs, Mable Freeze and Dorothy Didio. Ruth is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Melvin and Pat Rothove, of Kensett; daughter, Linda Peterson, of Mason City; grandchildren, Tracy and Kevin Frette, of Ankeny, Todd and Jill Rothove, of Northwood, Renee and Doug Burtness, of Mason City; Holly Rothove, of Albert Lea; stepgrandchildren, Weston and Angie Haugebak, of Nevada, and Shannon Haugebak, of Northwood; great-grandchildren, Alexandria and Mackenzie Burtness, Collin Jaspers, Tristan Rothove, and Trevor Rothove. Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home

Mason City Globe Gazette
May 8, 2001