Ruth Van Ravenswaay

Ruth Van Ravenswaay, 86, of Sioux Center, IA died Saturday, November 10, 2012, at the Sioux Center Community Hospital. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 6-8PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A funeral service will be held on Friday at 10AM at the First Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Mark Verbruggen officiating. Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. The Van Ravenswaay family prefers memorials be directed to the Sioux Center Community Hospital Foundation. Ruth Marie Van Ravenswaay was born October 13, 1926, to Ralph and Katie (Van Donge) Lammers. She was born on the Lammers family farm west of Sioux Center, and attended country school through the 8th grade. Ruth married Richard J. Van Ravenswaay on December 11, 1945. As newlyweds, they lived west of Sioux Center before moving to California for a short time. They returned to Sioux Center, living in town until 1958, when they moved to a farm west of Sioux Center. Ruth resided on the farm until 2010, when she moved into Sioux Center. After her husband passed away in May of 1982, Ruth completed a Nurses Aid course and helped various families with their elderly family members. At times she worked through the night, or helped with their personal needs. She faithfully cared for her own father for 13 years. Ruth's hobbies included crocheting, making baptismal blankets for the great-grandchildren and making cabbage patch doll clothing for the grandkids. She had a passion for vegetable gardening and enjoyed the fruits of her labor by canning and processing her produce. Ruth would often share her abundance of produce with others. Later in life, her gardening interests turned to flower gardening. But most of all, she loved having the grandkids come and stay with her, and didn't miss a beat doing the chicken dance at their weddings. Birthday parties with the great-grandkids were special highlights; she loved them all dearly. She was affectionately known as Granny Ruth. Ruth was a member of First Christian Reformed Church. She loved being a part of the Ruth Circle Bible Study. She is also a three year breast cancer survivor. Ruth is survived by her children: Kathleen Peterson of Sioux Center, Arlen Van Ravenswaay of Sanborn, Ron (Wanda)Van Ravenswaay of Ireton and Lorraine (David) Kruse of Sioux Center; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; her sisters: Dorothy Mouw and Evelyn (Fred) Lamfers of Sioux Center, and Lila (Al) Van Dyk of Sibley, IA and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband; parents; son-in-law, Larry Peterson; daughter-in-law, Leola Van Ravenswaay; a brother, Ralph Lammers; sisters: Frieda (Jake) Vande Brake; Bertha (Ralph) Schat and brother-in-law, Lawrence Mouw.