Ruby Leona (West) Rivers Obituary (1923 - 2014)

Ruby L. (West) Rivers, 90, of Oelwein and formerly of Arlington, died Tuesday morning, March 11, 2014 at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Saturday, March 15, 2014 at St. John Lutheran Church in Arlington with Rev. Paul Fohs officiating. Visitation: 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, March 14, 2014 at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and after 9:30 A.M. Saturday at the church in Arlington. Interment: Taylorsville Cemetery, rural Arlington, Iowa. A Memorial Fund has been established in her name. Ruby Leona Larson was born July 24, 1923 in Highland Township, Clayton County, Iowa the daughter of Adolph Henry and Anne Mary (Johnson) Larson. She graduated from Elkader High School. On July 7, 1941, Ruby was united in marriage to Robert Ernest West. In 1981, Robert died and Ruby later moved to Oelwein. On March 21, 2007, she was united in marriage to Dean Alfred Rivers. Ruby was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Arlington and Ladies Card Club. She enjoyed dancing, playing cards, music, flowers, volunteering at Grandview Nursing Home and Arlington Place Assisted Living and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ruby is survived by her 5 children, Mardelle (Leon) Streicher of Lamont, Roger (Mario) West of Unionville, Missouri, Diane Smith of Lamont, Sheryl (Randy) Sherman of Maynard and Larry (Annette) West of West Union; 13 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; 6 step-children, Ronald Rivers of Nashua, Edna Rivers of Winthrop, Gerald (Sue) Rivers of Keil, Wisconsin, Roger Hagarty of Seattle, Washington, Kenneth Rivers of What Cheer and Teresa Rivers of Waverly; 15 step-grandchildren and 19 step-great grandchildren; 3 brothers, Mervin Larson of Postville, Donald (Rita) Larson of Elkader and Carroll Larson of Elkader; 2 sisters, Velma Berns of Elkader and Mildred Christiansen of Edgewood; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; 2 husbands, Robert West on September 11, 1981 and Dean Rivers on May 13, 2011; son-in-law, Richard Smith; sister, Norma Harrington; sister-in-law, Elva Mae Larson; and 2 brothers-in-law, Herbert Berns and Bill Christiansen.