Ruth Vallier

Ruth M. Vallier, 74, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Monday, June 25, 2007, at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center.

Ruth Mae (Nelson) Vallier was born on November 6, 1932, on a farm, south of Brayton, Audubon County, Iowa, the daughter of Roy Cecil and Nellie Margaret (Jensen) Nelson.

The family moved to a farm in northern Cass County, when she was two years old, and lived there during her school days.
Ruth attended country school at Pymosa #6 for one year, and Pymosa #1 through the 8th grade. She attended Atlantic High School and graduated in May of 1950. In the fall after graduation, she entered nurses training at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Ruth graduated with a RN degree on September 4, 1953. She worked at Jennie Edmundson full and part time until 1972.

Ruth was active in the Eldeen of Pymosa 4-H Club, and in 1948, with Deloris Prall Nelson, won the county demonstration team with "clover cookies". She even earned a trip to the state fair to present the award.

On December 16, 1955, Ruth was united in marriage to Dick Royal Vallier at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Two children, Debra and Dale, were born to the couple.

Ruth was active with many church activities wherever they lived, including Council Bluffs, Belton, Missouri and Atlantic. She loved her Lord, and truly experienced his Love and Blessings the last couple of years.

Dick and Ruth enjoyed spending may winters in Texas, which she continued, even after Dick passed away suddenly on December 7, 1997.

Ruth is survived by her daughter, Debra Hand and her husband, Allan of Brayton, Iowa; son, Dale Vallier of Council Bluffs, Iowa; grandson, Scott Leininger and his wife, Kim of Royal, Iowa; granddaughter, Jamie Hand of San Diego, California; great-grandchildren, Audrey and Wyatt Leininger; two step-grandchildren, Sabrina and Brandon Hand of Houston, Texas; three step great-grandchildren, Kayla Dixon, Jay Marie Dixon and Santino Hand; brothers, Donald (Opal) Nelson of Hamilton, Texas, and Merrill (Ellen) Nelson of Warsaw, Missouri; sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Ruth Ann Smith and her husband, Richard of Aberdeen, Missouri, Betty Gerhardt and her husband, James of Niles, Illinois, Dan Vallier and his wife, Mary Ann of Roseburg, Oregon, and Frank Vallier and his wife, Carmen of Norwalk, California; aunt Willa Jensen of Audubon, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 29, 2007, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic with The Reverends Dennis and Sally Meyer officiating.

Committal services will be in the Atlantic Cemetery followed by a luncheon in the church fellowship hall.

Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 28, 2007, at Hockenberry Family Care, with the family present to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Memorials may be given to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic or to Iowa Hospice, 100 West 5th St., Carroll, IA 51401.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic is in charge of the arrangements.