Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Homes

Willard Ruliffson

Willard Sloan “Bill” Ruliffson, 86, a native of Storm Lake, Iowa, and a long time resident of Manhattan, Kansas and Watkinsville, Georgia died at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake on January 1, 2005.

Funeral Services will be Monday, January 3, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial will be in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the services.

Visitation will be Sunday, January 2, 2005 from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake.

Bill Ruliffson was born July 19, 1918, in Balaton, Minnesota, the son of Frank Willard “Bob” and Amy T. (Dahl) Ruliffson. He was the second of four boys: Howard, Willard, Harmon and Franklin. Bill graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1936 and Buena Vista College in May 1940. His first job after college was as a music instructor and science teacher at Quimby, Iowa. He was awarded degrees from the University of Iowa; M.S. in 1948 and a PhD in Biochemistry in 1953. He was a Professor of Biochemistry at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas form 1953-1983.

On April 25, 1941, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Ora Marie Mickle in Storm Lake. Ora died December 20, 1979 in Manhattan, Kansas. He then married Ruby W. Benson Chappelle, a native of Alta, Iowa in 1983, in Manhattan, Kansas.

Bill was a WWII veteran, serving as a commissioned officer and a B-24 and B-25 command pilot. He entered active duty on October 6, 1941, and was discharged December 17, 1945.

Bill’s family includes his brother, CAPT Franklin R. Ruliffson USN(Ret), Bethesda, Maryland, his daughter, Molly J. Purinton and husband Tom, Watkinsville, Georgia, their son Scott A. Purinton and his wife Rebecca, Atlanta, Georgia, daughter, Amy M. Riley and her husband, Steve, Canton, Georgia, and daughter Sarah E. Highfield and her husband Anthony, Winterville, Georgia. Bill’s family also includes his son, Mark H. Ruliffson and his wife Barbara J., Hays, Kansas, their daughter Tammy L. Meyer and her husband Jeffery, Lenexa, Kansas, and son Tad B. Ruliffson and his wife Rebecca L., Shawnee, Kansas. Also surviving are 10 great grandchildren: Avery Lauren, Morgan Scott and Charles Wyatt Purinton; Megan Ariana Hammontree and Marissa Jean Riley; McKinley Sloan Highfield; Nathan Jeffery, Noah Bradley and Natalie Marie Meyer; and Ella Paige Ruliffson. Also surviving is nephew Navy CAPT James H. Ruliffson, USN(Ret), former Navy pilot and Top Gun Commanding Officer, Hudgins, Virginia, and son of Howard and Beulah Canady Ruliffson.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents. his wife Ora in 1979, his second wife Ruby in 1998, his oldest brother Howard D., Gilroy, California in 1976, brother Harmon L., Rochester, New York, in 2000, and nephew Eric Ruliffson, Moraga, California, in 2000.

Bill’s interests included vocal music, both chorus and barbershop. He was an accomplished clarinet player, even playing in a dance band. He enjoyed tennis, bicycling, and the companionship of a Golden Retriever dog, Cherokee.