Ruth E. Thompson

Ruth E. Thompson, age 70, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa died Saturday, February 3, 2018, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Funeral services will be held on will be held Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Church in Sioux Rapids. Burial will be in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place Wednesday, February 7, 2018 from 5-8:00 p.m. at the First United Church in Sioux Rapids.  The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Ellen Olson was born December 19, 1947, the daughter of Gehard and Kathryne (Schluntz) Olson in Linn Grove, Iowa.  She attended school in Linn Grove graduating in 1966. She worked several jobs, including Ray’s Grocery Store in Sioux Rapids.  It is there she met her future husband and on December 6, 1974, Ruth married John Leroy Thompson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Linn Grove. Ruth and John made their home on North River Road just outside of Sioux Rapids. Here they raised their two girls, Amy and Julie, and lots of pigs, chickens, and dogs.

Ruth will be remembered as a loving wife and mother, a caring grandmother, a treasured sister, a devoted friend, a proud supporter of grandchildren’s endeavors and a shrewd card player.  She was also known for driving a hard bargain on just about any purchase she was making and for trying to get gas money for the return trip.

Left to treasure her memory are her husband, John of Sioux Rapids, her daughters Amy Thompson and Julie Siebrecht of Sioux Rapids.  Her four grandchildren Cole, Caleb and Cody Siebrecht and Lauren Holm, all of Sioux Rapids.  Julie’s fiancée, Michael Sather and his sons Noah and Matthew, of Franklin, Minnesota.  Her sisters LouAnn and Nyle Burns of Marathon, Iowa, Linda Rydstrom of Marathon, Iowa, and Retha and Roger Harrington of Ida Grove, Iowa.  Her brothers Richard and Linda Olson of Laurens, Iowa and Robert and Jan Olson of Sioux City, Iowa.  And special friend Bel Haldin and husband Rich of Sioux Rapids, Iowa and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that are often counted as family.

Those that were waiting to meet her in heaven are her parents; sisters Miriam Wiebe, Elaine Jessen, Janet Campbell and Vivian Foxhoven; brothers Arnold Olson and Lloyd Olson; brothers-in-law Melvin Weibe, Bob Campbell and Joe Rydstrom; sister-in-law Alice Olson; and several nieces and nephews.

Ruth will be forever missed by those left to treasure her memory.  We all know that if she were here today, she would say “Glad you got to see me”.  We sure are.

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