Ruth Irene Randgaard, 90, passed away at her residence at the Uplands Village on July 3, 2012. A memorial service will be held on July 6th at 3 PM at the Pleasant Hill Community Church. A second memorial service will be held in Kansas on Monday, July 9, 2012 at 2 PM at the McLouth United Methodist Church. Her remains will be inurned with her husband at Leavenworth Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas at a later date.
Ruth was born on May 17, 1922 to Carl J. Hermanson and Anna J. Ellefson Hermanson in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. She attended Augustana Academy in Canton, South Dakota before going on to get her associates degree from Augustana College. During this time, she met Donald “Don” Randgaard who would become her husband of 57 years. Often while Don was traveling, Ruth ran the family’s 150 acre farm. She was a master quilter who loved to read, enjoyed music, gardening, and cooking . Church was a central part of her life and she was a deeply devout woman. Ruth loved her family; throughout moves and traveling, she welcomed many friends into her extended family. Most recently, she included her fellow residents at Uplands as a part of her extended family as well.
Ruth is survived by her children, Ross Randgaard and wife Gayle, Donna Porter and husband Dallas, Nancy Rice, and Carol Findley and husband Bill, grandchildren, Maggie Rice Tucker and husband Greg, Lee Rice, Alison Randgaard Butler and her husband Brandon, Chris Randgaard and wife Holly, Jeremy Porter and his wife Jamie, Steven Porter and his wife Stephanie, and Jason Porter and his wife Cathy, great grandchildren, Dylan Tucker, Keira Matteson, Rylan Randgaard, Justin, Zachary, Devon, Alex, Daniel, and Nathan Porter.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Donald Eugene Randgaard, parents, Carl and Anna Hermanson, son, Rex Randgaard, and her brothers and sisters.