Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa

Ruth Madge, eldest of five children of James J. and Ella MULKEY BEEN, was born January 5, 1889 at the family farm near Maloy in Ringgold county, Iowa, and left this life October 26, 1977 at Clearview Home, Mount Ayr, Iowa, well into her 89th year.

As a small child she accompanied her parents by covered wagon to Nebraska, returning two years later, after continued drought, where they had located.

With her family, she lived in Ringgold county, in Jefferson township, near Benton, and Mount Ayr, attending rural school and the school in Mount Ayr. She had a natural ear for music and took lessons on a parlor organ.

She was united in marriage January 30, 1907 to Owen SCHLAPIA, continuing to make Ringgold county her home. A member of the Mount Ayr Baptist church, she transferred her membership to the Diagonal Methodist church, continuing in attendance and service, and in interest all of her life. As a faithful member of the women's group she was given a life membership with its accompanying gold pin.

Seven children were born to the SCHLAPIAS: Ruth, Leroy, Hugh, Wanda, Majorie, Francis and Harry, a closely knit family which, with their descendants, gathered frequently at the paternal home, and to visit the mother and grandmother after she was widowed August 2, 1950.

She was also preceded in death by a son, Hugh, in April, 1976; by a son-in-law, Ivan PRICE, and a grandson Gary Dee SCHLAPIA; her parents, and two brothers, Otis and Barney BEEN.

In her immediate family she is survived by her children and their spouses, Ruth and Harold PAGE, Leroy and Hazel SCHLAPIA, Vivian (Mrs. Hugh) SCHLAPIA, of Diagonal; Wanda (Mrs. Ivan) PRICE of Des Moines; William and Marjorie JESSEN of Creston; Francis and June SCHLAPIA of Stillman Valley, Ill.; Harry and Patty SCHLAPIA of Creston. These families include 19 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

In the BEEN family she is survived by a sister, Mrs. Beulah SCHISLER of Goodland, Kan.; a brother, Harley BEEN of Eagle Grove, and a sister-in-law, Inez BEEN of Topeka, Kan.

She was also held dear by nieces and nephews, and by friends made and kept through the years.

Just two weeks ago she was happy to meet with the Kensington club of Diagonal of which she was a longtime members. Her hands were never idle and she was busy with her needle to the end of life.

For the past 15 months she was unable to stay in her own home, but the influence of her presence was not dimmed. Through her many years as wife, mother, and grandmother, Madge SCHLAPIA did what she found to do and did it well. Disciplining herself and her family by the law of love she presided over a well-ordered household where family members gathered at every opportunity. There they found cookies, comfort and counsel according to the need, and a loving influence which lives on.

Funeral services were held Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist church with the pastor, Greg CREECH in charge. Darl BELL and Duane PINE sang "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" and "How Great Thou Art" with Mrs. Harold TAYLOR accompanying on the organ. Casketbearers were grandsons - Larry SCHLAPIA, Jerry SCHLAPIA, Alvin SCHLAPIA, Ron SCHLAPIA, Robert SCHLAPIA, Pat SCHLAPIA and John SCHLAPIA. Interment was in Diagonal Cemetery.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2011

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