Ruth Martha (Hansen) ERICKSON WEISS

WEISS, HANSEN, ERICKSON, ZADOW, KARSTENS, GEHRIG, LENNIER, MCKERNAN, DICKERSON, PICKERING, HULL, JOHNSON, FABER, MILLER, MITCHELL, PERFECT, MCKERNAN, PORTA, KIELTY, CRAWFORD, STOTT, HULL, AYNES, ROMINE, OBERT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/11/2011 at 11:54:06

Ruth M. Weiss
August 12, 1918 - October 06, 2011
Wall Lake, Iowa

Visitation: 3 - 8:00 P.M., Sunday, October 09, 2011 at Farber & Otteman Funeral Home, Wall Lake, Iowa.
Funeral Service: 11:00 A.M., Monday, October 10, 2011 at Peace Lutheran Church, Wall Lake, Iowa.
Interment: October 10, 2011 at Wall Lake Cemetery, Wall Lake, Iowa

Ruth M. Weiss, age 93, of Wall Lake, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2011, at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake. Ruth Martha Hansen Erickson Weiss, age 93, of Wall Lake, IA, went to be with her Lord on Thursday, October 6, 2011, at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake. Ruth was born at home in Odebolt on August 12, 1918, to Johannas Hansen and Clara Marie Hedwig (Zadow) Hansen. She was baptized September 14, 1918, and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church on March 31, 1931. Ruth graduated from Odebolt High School in 1936. She took Normal Training courses during her Junior and Senior years so she could teach rural school after graduation. Ruth taught four years in Wheeler and Clinton Townships before her marriage.

On August 30, 1940, Ruth was united in marriage to Orville John Erickson at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cook Township. Two daughters were born to this union, Miriam Ruth and Kathryn Ann and a son was stillborn, December 11, 1949. Orville farmed and raised cattle and hogs and Ruth dressed and sold broilers. Ruth taught Sunday school and Bible school for many years, was zone Lutheran Women’s Mission League President for two years and member of Federated Woman’s Club and Wall Lake Historical Society. She was active in Ladies Aid and Mission Society at Peace Lutheran in Wall Lake. She sang in the choir and for several years was the church secretary. Orville died of lung cancer on November 6, 1965. He was 53 years old.

On January 1, 1967, Ruth married Rev. O. E. Weiss. In June his ministry took them to Eagle Grove where he served for six years and once again Ruth served as the church secretary. Ruth and Rev. Weiss went on a mission “Around The World” tour in 1972 which included 14 countries, 23 flights, and 32 days. They spent summer months in Nevis, MN, at Ruth’s cabin and wintered in Texas. They loved to go to flea markets and auctions looking for antiques. On January 25, 1982, Ozzie was killed in a car accident after celebrating 50 years in the ministry. Ruth enjoyed cooking and caring for her home and family. She was active in the community, school and church. She enjoyed volunteering, crafting, antiquing, traveling, and playing bridge. She wintered in Arizona for 25 years and had many special memories shared at the family cabin on Lake Belle Taine in Nevis, MN. She enjoyed her many friends and family in Wall Lake.

Ruth is survived by her daughters: Miriam (Gene) Erickson Karstens of Wall Lake, IA and Kathryn (Bill) Erickson Gehrig Lennier of Georgetown, TX; step-children: Dick (Paula) Weiss of North Carolina, Julie (Virgil) Karstens of Spirit Lake, IA, Janice (Duane) McKernan of Cape Girardeau, and Cathy Dickerson of Omaha, NE; grandchildren: Rebecca (Christopher) Pickering, David (Nancy) Karstens, Joyce Hull, Melissa Karstens, Rachelle (Vincent) Johnson, Elizabeth (Kurt) Faber, Adam Karstens, and Matthew Karstens, Jason (Erin) Gehrig, Heather Miller; step-grandchildren: Laura (William) Mitchell, Eric (Stephanie) Lennier, Martha Lennier, Katja Lennier, Heather Weiss, Heath Weiss, Megan (Dan) Porta, Joel Weiss, Kristin Karstens, Tara (Mitch) Samples, Tim (Sandi) Karstens, Jason (Terri) McKernan, Toby (Rebecca) McKernan, Jayne (Francis “Duke”) Perfect, and David Dickerson; great-grandchildren: Emily (Brandan) Kielty, Christopher (Melissa) Pickering, Zackery Pickering, Derek and Laura Crawford, Chase and Logan Karstens, Jocelyn and Austin Stott, Alec, Elizabeth, and Jace Hull, Paige and Andrew "AJ" Aynes, Melissa and Joshua Romine, Clara and Grant Johnson, William, Charles, and Samuel Faber, Eli Karstens, Jude Obert, Benjamin, Ann, and Jane Gehrig, Hannah, Lochlan, and Addison Miller; step-great-grandchildren: Jesse (Tammie) and Charles Mitchell and Stacey (Mike) Beadle, Tyler, Ryan, and Nathan Lennier, Kayley Lennier, Jack (Audra) Crowley, Emily and Erin Crowley, Elijah and Samson Porta, Emma, Elle, Karsten, and Ian Samples, Kelly, Rachel, and Zachary McKernan, Tristan, Hunter, and Cooper McKernan, and Catherine and Chloe Perfect; great-great grandchildren: Konner Kielty, Avery and Amy Pickering, and Kort-Lyn Hartman and Makenna Stott; step-great-great grandchildren; Samantha, Emma, and Charles Mitchell, Emily Mitchell and Adrienne Crowley; special granddaughter: Kimberly Hauser and children Meghan and Aaron Rogers and Max and Grace Hauser, and many other extended family and friends. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; infant stillborn son; husbands Orville Erickson and Rev. O. E. Weiss; sister Dorothy Hansen Oxendale; and step-mother Laura Wolfe Hansen.

Farber & Otteman Funeral Home
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