Ruth M. Boyse
April 16, 1918 — March 8, 2016
This obituary was prepared from the heart by Ruth’s daughter, Kathy Healy:
She wasn’t a dignitary or a wealthy patron; she wasn’t a learned scholar or a well-known celebrity! She was strong and tough and stoic and the most gentle, loving, sweet soul I have ever known! She was from a different time and here’s some of her story!
At twenty-two Ruth married Keith and their first child, Terry Lee, was born on September 23, 1942. Keith, who had been drafted and was enroute to military training, was tracked down by the Red Cross and notified that Terry Lee had died of pneumonia on January 17, 1943. His one-week leave allowed him to bury his infant son and take his grieving wife to live with his distant relatives in Des Moines. Ruth got a job in manufacturing where she operated presses that stamped out the metal fins for bombs. She remained there until 1946 when Keith was honorably discharged from the Army. With her savings they purchased an old house and two lots in Prairieburg where they lived for thirty-five years until Keith’s death in 1981.
She hosted family reunions, opened her small home to visiting relatives, and encouraged friends who stopped in unexpectedly to “stay for a bite to eat”! She never forgot to send a card to family and friends honoring a birthday or anniversary. She loved the outdoors and sports; she taught me how to fish, throw a softball, mow a lawn and wash a car. She attended every athletic event in which I and my daughter, Dana, ever participated. She delivered Meals on Wheels when she was in her 80’s. She loved going on bus trips to new destinations. She taught me the important things in life: don’t lie, don’t cheat, don’t steal and live by the golden rule! And her greatest legacy is that she passed onto Dana the sweetness, kindness and gentleness of her soul!
Ruth M. Boyse, 97, of Central City, Iowa, and formerly of Prairieburg, died on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at the Hiawatha Care Center in Hiawatha.
Friends and family may attend a visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 11, 2016, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Central City. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 12, 2016, at the funeral home conducted by Pastor Mary Taylor. Following services, burial will be at Jordan’s Grove Cemetery, rural Central City.
Ruth Marie Egger was born on April 16, 1918 in rural Central City, Iowa, to Fred and Lena (Boss) Egger. She attended Jordan’s Grove School and in 1935 graduated from Central City High School. She married Keith E. Boyse on October 15, 1940, in Conrad, Iowa.
Throughout the years Ruth was very active in the Central City and Prairieburg communities, and from the 1960’s through the late 1970’s was one of the “lunch ladies” at the Central City Community School.
Those left to honor Ruth’s memory include her daughter, Kathy Healy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; granddaughter, Dana Healy Nogelmeier (Troy) of Ely, Iowa; a brother, Paul Egger of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and a sister, Dorothy Brashears (LeRoy) of Alta, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith; her son, Terry; her sister, Maxine; and her parents.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous of Iowa or the Alzheimer’s Association.
She wasn’t a dignitary or a wealthy patron; she wasn’t a learned scholar or a well-known celebrity! She was strong and tough and stoic and the most gentle, loving, sweet soul I have ever known! She was from a different time and here’s some of her story!
At twenty-two Ruth married Keith and their first child, Terry Lee, was born on September 23, 1942. Keith, who had been drafted and was enroute to military training, was tracked down by the Red Cross and notified that Terry Lee had died of pneumonia on January 17, 1943. His one-week leave allowed him to bury his infant son and take his grieving wife to live with his distant relatives in Des Moines. Ruth got a job in manufacturing where she operated presses that stamped out the metal fins for bombs. She remained there until 1946 when Keith was honorably discharged from the Army. With her savings they purchased an old house and two lots in Prairieburg where they lived for thirty-five years until Keith’s death in 1981.
She hosted family reunions, opened her small home to visiting relatives, and encouraged friends who stopped in unexpectedly to “stay for a bite to eat”! She never forgot to send a card to family and friends honoring a birthday or anniversary. She loved the outdoors and sports; she taught me how to fish, throw a softball, mow a lawn and wash a car. She attended every athletic event in which I and my daughter, Dana, ever participated. She delivered Meals on Wheels when she was in her 80’s. She loved going on bus trips to new destinations. She taught me the important things in life: don’t lie, don’t cheat, don’t steal and live by the golden rule! And her greatest legacy is that she passed onto Dana the sweetness, kindness and gentleness of her soul!
Ruth M. Boyse, 97, of Central City, Iowa, and formerly of Prairieburg, died on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at the Hiawatha Care Center in Hiawatha.
Friends and family may attend a visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 11, 2016, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Central City. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 12, 2016, at the funeral home conducted by Pastor Mary Taylor. Following services, burial will be at Jordan’s Grove Cemetery, rural Central City.
Ruth Marie Egger was born on April 16, 1918 in rural Central City, Iowa, to Fred and Lena (Boss) Egger. She attended Jordan’s Grove School and in 1935 graduated from Central City High School. She married Keith E. Boyse on October 15, 1940, in Conrad, Iowa.
Throughout the years Ruth was very active in the Central City and Prairieburg communities, and from the 1960’s through the late 1970’s was one of the “lunch ladies” at the Central City Community School.
Those left to honor Ruth’s memory include her daughter, Kathy Healy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; granddaughter, Dana Healy Nogelmeier (Troy) of Ely, Iowa; a brother, Paul Egger of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and a sister, Dorothy Brashears (LeRoy) of Alta, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith; her son, Terry; her sister, Maxine; and her parents.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous of Iowa or the Alzheimer’s Association.
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