Ruth E. Hansen

Ruth Elizabeth Hansen, the daughter of Marion and Bess Rippey Jones, was born near Audubon Iowa on July 10, 1923 and died April 1, 2016 at the Exira Care Center.

Ruth was baptized and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. She attended Audubon Community School graduating with the High School class of 1940. Ruth received her normal school teacher training while in high school and was certified July 10, 1941. She taught in a one room country school until after she married.

On January 1, 1946, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Jerome Hansen at the Presbyterian Parsonage in Audubon. After their marriage they maintained a home in Exira where they were active members of the Federated United Church of Christ and in the community. Ruth was a member of the Exodus Chapter of the Eastern Star, the Exira Study Club, the Garden Club, a bridge club and served on the church board. After Kenny’s death and the closing of the Federated United Church of Christ in Exira, Ruth renewed her membership at the Audubon Presbyterian Church and attended services there. In their retirement, Kenny and Ruth enjoyed camping and traveling to Arizona in their travel trailer where Ruth’s brothers and sister-in-laws also wintered. They were charter members of the Greenbriar Golf Club and enjoyed many hours of golf and socializing.

Ruth was a loving and devoted wife and mother. Her many hobbies included cooking, sewing and gardening. Her fastidious record keeping and her mastery of the written word were exemplified in her daily record keeping and journaling. Ruth and Kenneth provided their children a safe and homey haven to gather each day. She fed their bodies with great tasting meals and and filled their souls with love and support. Her children feel very blessed to have had such loving parents that built a foundation of faith, community involvement, and family commitment which showed them the power of love for which they will always be indebted. Growing up in this community, in this family has shaped them all and they will forever be grateful.

Ruth was able to see all 7 grandchildren graduate from high school and attend college. She got to welcome 5 great-grandchildren who spent many Christmases and 4th of Julys here in Exira with her. She was able see them enjoy the home she and Kenny established, watched as they played around her, received their hugs and kisses and got to see the sparkle of fireworks reflected in their eyes. Ruth maintained her home after Kenny’s death until she moved into the Exira Care Center where she has resided for the past five and a half years. Her family will be forever grateful for the care and love provided to her at the Exira Care Center and more recently the added care and love provided through the hospice program. We celebrate Mom’s life that she lived so fully and that we were able to enjoy her for so many years.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Kenneth, a son Richard Lee Hansen, her parents and her brothers and sister-in-laws Robert (Burdelle) Jones, Hamp (Madeline) Jones and Don (Alma) Jones.

Ruth is survived by her children Sandra (George) Prochaska of St. Louis, MO, Charles (Leslie) Hansen of Littleton, CO and Thomas (Sandra) Hansen of Warsaw, IL. Her grandchildren and their children: Katie (Dr. David) Meyer, Jacob, Claire and Nicholas of Glendale, MO, Christopher (Kate) Prochaska, Thomas and James of Ballwin, MO, Mike Prochaska (Alexandra Visconti) of Los Angeles, CA and Sarah (John) Davis of Alexandria, VA, Zachary Hansen, Newark, NJ, Daniel Hansen, Littleton, CO and Wyatt Hansen, Fort Collins, CO as well as numerous nieces and nephews, an adopted family member and care giver, Dawn Sams and many caring and generous neighbors.