Obituaries : Ruth E. Jeffries

Ruth E. Jeffries

VINTON – Ruth E. Jeffries, 92, died Tuesday, January 22, 2013, at Windsor Manor in Vinton.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 2, 2013, at Blessed Hope in Vinton with Pastor Jim Blair officiating. Memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, February 1, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton. Ruth and her husband Jack will be laid to rest Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery in Glidden.

Ruth was born January 2, 1921, in Brandt, South Dakota, the daughter of Thomas Charles and Alma Fogel Conner. She graduated from Glidden High School in 1938. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake in 1942.

Ruth taught at various schools in western Iowa from 1943 until 1954. On June 13, 1954, Ruth was united in marriage with Jack J. Jeffries in Glidden. She resumed teaching in Gary, South Dakota, in 1962. In 1965, the couple and their children moved to Vinton. Ruth taught elementary school (5thgrade) in Vinton from 1965 until 1979. She then worked as a house parent at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School until her retirement in 1989.

Following her retirement, Ruth became involved in volunteering. She was a member of the Red Cross Auxiliary and led Bingo at local care facilities. She enjoyed knitting baby caps for St. Luke’s Hospital and provided child care. She was also a member of the Vinton Women’s Club and was named Woman of the Year in 1994.

Ruth was a member of the Presbyterian Church and also attended Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church and Blessed Hope.

Ruth is survived by two sons: Joel (Colleen) Jeffries of Chicago, IL, and Lyle (Karla) Jeffries of Urbandale; two daughters: Kala (Kent) Hill of Swansea, IL, and Faye (Jeff) Gillespie of Cedar Rapids; one brother: Wayne (Roberta) Conner of Phoenix, AZ; two sisters: Arlene Stovall of Lansing, KS, and Evelyn (Harry) Boardsen of Cedar Falls; 8 grandchildren: Paul (Lindsey), Tanner, Daniel, Ellen and Eric Jeffries, and Grant (Amber), Nicholas and Jennifer Hill; one brother-in-law, Elmer Peters of Glidden; and two sisters-in-law: Carolyn Conner of Adel and Kathy Conner of Oregon.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack, on June 21, 2012; an infant son, Jason; three brothers: Paul, Ralph and John Conner; and three sisters: Hazel Peters, Jean Anderson and Mary Ellen Tew.

Memorials may be directed to the Ruth Jeffries Memorial Fund in care of Kala Hill, 147 St. Sabre Dr., Swansea, IL 62226.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Ruth and her family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.