Carlson, Ruth Elaine Williams (1916-2012)

CARLSON, WILLIAMS, PUMMILL, MORTVEDT, CARTWRIGHT, JOHNSON, THAYER, VANEK, WEAVER, CRONK

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:02

Walter-Schroeder Funeral Home, Boone, Iowa

Ruth E. Carlson, 96, of Boone, Ia., passed away at the Hearthstone Memory Care Unit of the Eastern Star Masonic Home, December 7, 2012.

A Memorial service will be held Saturday, December 15, at 10:30 a.m. at the Central Christian Church at 803 Greene Street in Boone. Interment will be in the South Marion Cemetery, Southeast of Stratford.

Ruth Elaine Carlson was born May 19, 1916 in Soldier, Iowa, the oldest of three daughters born to Clarence and Cora (Pummill) Williams. Her family lived in Gowrie, Mapelton, Breda, and in 1927 moved to Stanhope as openings came for her father as Depot Agent for the Chicago Northwestern Railway.

Ruth graduated with honors from Stanhope High School in 1933. Ruth was accompanist for the high school music department during her high school years. On September 6, 1936, she married Wendell W. Carlson. They immediately moved onto the family farm where they lived until 1986.

Ruth loved music and used her musical ability all her life. She served as organist and choir director for the Christian Church (Disciples) in Stanhope, from mid-1930’s to early 1980’s. She was chairman in the Ladies Society when that group raised enough money to purchase the electric Hammond Organ for the church. She also served as an Elder in the Stanhope church. She also developed and lead the choir in the Baptist Church in Queen Valley, Arizona where Ruth and Wendell spent 13 winters.

Ruth was very active in the order of the Easter Star. After serving as Worthy Matron in the chapter in Stratford, she was appointed as a District Instructor in the state organization. She enjoyed this work very much. In 1968 she was elected Worthy Grand Matron of the State of Iowa making over 150 visits. Her travels took her all over the State of Iowa, and many other states as well as Nova Scotia, Canada.

Ruth and Wendell enjoyed traveling in 26 different countries on 6 continents. In 1994 Mayo Clinic diagnosed Ruth with Alzheimer’s Disease and it was hard to watch her gradually lose all those memories of her varied and busy past.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters. Surviving are her husband, Wendell Carlson; one daughter Kathryn Mortvedt of Ellsworth, Ia., one son Don and his wife Mary Jane (Cartwright) of Orono, Mn.; four Grandchildren: Alan Johnson and his wife Shellie (Thayer), Jana (Johnson) Vanek, Melissa (Carlson) Weaver and her husband Michael, Schelli (Carlson) Cronk and her husband Brian; and her ten Great Grandchildren.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.walter-schroederfuneralhome.com

Memorials may be directed to the family to be used at their discretion.

Walter ~ Schroeder Funeral Home at Fifth & Story Streets in Boone is in charge of arrangements.