Ruth Campbell

Ruth Campbell, age 96, of Storm Lake, Iowa died Monday, April 18, 2016 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Funeral services will held Friday, April 22, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the Storm Lake Cemetery. Visitation will take place Thursday, April 21, 2016 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Memorials may be directed to the Storm Lake United Methodist Women. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Mary Ruth Bennett was born October 27, 1919 on the family farm in Ida County, Iowa. After the untimely death of her mother in 1924, the family moved to Schaller, Iowa. Her aunt, Sarah Bleakley, came to live with the family to help their father raise the three young children. After graduating from high school, Ruth attended Wayne State College in Nebraska and earned a teaching degree. She taught school in Exira, Iowa for two years. On May 22, 1943, Mary Ruth was united in marriage to Emlin Verne Campbell. The couple moved to Chicago, Illinois and started a family. In 1951, they moved with their two young daughters to Storm Lake, and added two sons to the family. In 1962, the family moved into a new home on West 9th Street where Verne and Ruth lived until they moved to Otsego Place and then to Methodist Manor. Ruth was devoted to her husband Verne, her four children, and all of her relatives, friends, and neighbors. She was devoted to the United Methodist Church where she was a lifelong member. Ruth was active in Women’s Society as well as other groups and functions in the church, and was also involved with the Order of the Eastern Star for 78 years. She rarely missed any activity in which her kids were involved and was active in the lives of her grandchildren as well. Ruth had morning coffee with the 9th Street neighbor ladies almost daily and eventually allowed the men to come as they retired. Many evenings were spent on the patio in lawn chairs visiting with neighbors and friends or playing cards. Verne and Ruth were active members in the Izaak Walton League, and they loved the outdoors. The binoculars and a chair were always in front of the back window to watch the birds. Verne and Ruth traveled the country on bird watching trips, later on bus trips, and eventually they traveled to all fifty states. Ruth and Verne never missed a Saturday night watching Lawrence Welk. Ruth is survived by four children: Mary (David) Heikes of Smithville, Missouri; Jean Annette Kender of Storm Lake, Iowa; Paul (Elaine) Campbell of Scottsdale, Arizona; John Bennett Campbell of Storm Lake, Iowa; six grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Emlin Verne Campbell; parents, Dresden and Ruth Naomi Bennett; sister, Elsie Christiansen; and brother, David Bennett.

Ruth Campbell

October 27, 1919 - April 18, 2016