Rugaard, Elbertha Jane (1921-2005)

RUGAARD, SCHMIDT, THUESEN

Posted By: John Schulte (email)
Date: 9/16/2005 at 12:37:14

Audubon County Advocate

Funeral services for Elbertha Jane Rugaard, 84, were conducted Aug. 30, 2005 at Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon, with Pastor Paul Sorlien officiating. Interment was in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. Honorary casket bearers were her granddaughters: Peggy Niday, Penny Williams, Patti Keller, Robin Heller, Kristie Elmquist, Mary Borkowski, Rhonda DuVall, Carrie Jensen and Karla Crawley. Casket bearers were her grandsons: James Boyd, Kevin Rugaard, Tom Rugaard, Pat Jensen, Andy Rugaard and Dan Rugaard.

Elbertha Jane Rugaard, the daughter of Hans and Karen Schmidt Thuesen, was born Aug. 6, 1921 at her parents’ home in Bingham, NE and died Aug. 26, 2005, at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines.

Elbertha was baptized and confirmed at Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon. She attended rural school “Douglas #6” west of Audubon, and then helped at home.

On Dec. 8, 1941, she was united in marriage to Thomas J. Rugaard at the Methodist Parsonage in Maryville, MO. They helped other farmers for several years, then later purchased a farm in Douglas Township in 1948. They operated a grain and livestock farm. They retired from farming in 1984 and continued to live on the farm. Thomas died Aug. 8, 2004. Elbertha moved to the Friendship Village in Audubon in November of 2004.

Elbertha was a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon and was a member of the Women of the Church and the Women’s Circle. She was a charter member of the “Happy Hour Club” a neighborhood club for 50 years.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Thomas J. Rugaard; her son, Regin Rugaard; her grandson, Mark Boyd; her great-grandson, Nickolas DuVall and her great-granddaughter, Morgan Borkowski; her sons-in-law: Richard Dean Jensen and Jackie M. Boyd; her parents; her brothers-in-law: Charles White, William Mackey, Jens and wife, Marvel Rugaard; Regin and wife, Cecil Rugaard; Merle Rugaard, Gordon Rugaard; Andrew and wife, Darlene Rudolph; George and wife, Margaret Rudolph; Raymond and wife, Agnes Rudolph; and infant sister-in-law, Mary Rugaard.

Elbertha is survived by her children: Karen Boyd of Allerton; Kathleen Jensen and special friend, Rick Bancroft of Audubon; Robert and wife, Donna Rugaard; her daughter-in-law, Sue Rugaard, all of Audubon; her grandchildren and their spouses: Jackie and Sharon Boyd of Mondovi, WI; James Boyd of Allerton; Peggy and Paul Niday of Corydon; Penny and Rick Williams of Corydon; Patti and Darin Keller of Allerton; Robin and Dave Heller of Highland Ranch, CO; Kristie and Joel Elmquist of Framingham, MA; Pat and Trisha Jensen of Carroll; Kevin and Jill Rugaard of Creston; Tom and Mandy Rugaard of Parachute, CO; Dan and Jenifer Rugaard of Hamlin; Mary Borkowski and special friend, Tony Derner of Dedham; Rhonda and Joel DuVall and Carrie and Greg Jensen all of Audubon; Andy and Laura Rugaard of Wall Lake; Karla and Rod Crawley of Guthrie Center; 37 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Mary Victoria Mackay of Santa Claire, UT; her sisters-in-law: Karen White of Ann Arbor, MI; Jessie and husband, Charles Grunow of Madison, WI; June Rugaard of Morton, IL; Mary Rugaard of Leander, TX; her special nephew: Darrell and wife, Marjorie Rudolph of Audubon; other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.