Gertrude Minerva Ruffing

Gertrude M. Ruffing

Funeral services for Gertrude Minerva Ruffing were held April 4, 1998 at the Bader Funeral Home in Lusk with Father Shea officiating. Burial followed in the Lusk Cemetery. She was born Dec. 1, 1916 at her mother's homestead 10 miles north of Lusk. She was the daughter of Ray and Iva (Fenner) Wilson. She passed away April 2, 1998 at the Niobrara County Memorial Hospital.

When she was six, the family moved to Walla Walla, Wash., where they lived for five years while her father worked at the saw mills. They then moved back to Wyoming where she lived the rest of her life.

She attended schools in Lusk, Lance Creek and Manville; graduating from Manville High School in 1936.

She married Albert A. Ruffing on July 4, 1936. To this union four children were born; Lawrence Alfred, Carol Marie, Robert Douglas and Donna Irene.

In 1947 she and Albert moved to the grandparents' homestead, which they later bought from her Uncle Frank. After Albert's death in 1982, she continued to live there and operate the ranch with her daughter, Donna. Through the trust, the ranch will eventually pass to the fifth generation grandchildren.

Gertrude was employed through the years at the Thrifty Laundry, The Spencer Hospital and the Diner, in addition to her responsibilities as a ranchwife and mother. She retired from working outside the home in 1979. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, sewing, reading and doing crossword puzzles. She loved "her" soap operas and game shows.

She was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Lusk on March 31, 1929. She taught Sunday School, served as a Deaconess, and was a former member of the Gertrude Bruch circle. She was a former member of the Divide Tumbleweed Homemakers Club, and served as president of Niobrara Homemakers Council.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two babies; a brother Merton H. Wilson; a sister, Emma Page Fillerup, and her loving husband Albert of 46 years.

She is survived by her son Robert and wife Judy of Salisbury, Mo.; her daughter Donna of Lusk; granddaughter and her husband Lori Ann and Lon Holloman of Cedarville, Calif.; grandson Brian Craig Ruffing of Red River, Ind.; great grandson Bryce Alexander Holloman of Cedarville, Calif.; brother-in-law Jennings Ruffing and his wife Bess of Lusk; sisters-in-law Monica Ruffing Erny of Alliance, Nebr. and Irene Burkholder Ruffing of Hartville, Wyo.; and many dearly loved nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends.

Memorials may be made to the Niobrara County Memorial Hospital equipment fund.

Bader Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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