Ruth Francis Riessen

Ruth Francis (Vetter) Riessen, 88, of Vail, Iowa died Saturday, December 12, 2015 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll, Iowa. She was born on October 26, 1927, one of ten children born to Otto and Rosa (Boldt) Vetter. She was raised on their family farm south of Arcadia, Iowa, attending rural country school until graduating from Arcadia Public School.She worked for a short time in Omaha in a bank. While attending a dance at the Five Mile House she met Leonard Riessen. They were united in marriage on February 20, 1947. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Rona and Lana.Starting their farming life, they rented a farm in the Deloit, Iowa area and in 1955 purchased a farm two miles south of Vail, Iowa where she and Leonard worked side by side until their times of death.Leonard and Ruth enjoyed traveling with her sisters which included cruises with family and friends. They also enjoyed a trip to Germany to visit Dietrick Kalusche, who was a foreign exchange student who lived in their Vail home in 1966.Leonard and Ruth belonged to card clubs for several years. Ruth continued to enjoy playing with her afternoon card clubs until her final days. Other hobbies included dancing, where she attended the annual King Shoot at the Five Mile House, which was also the site of her and Leonard’s wedding dance, proudly dancing at the age of 87. “Road Trips” were an important part of her retirement years with family and friends whenever they would call.Her door was always open to neighbors and friends for a cup of coffee and a good visit. Having her grandchildren and great grandchildren visiting was a great treat, and playing with her great grandchildren’s water balloon fights as long as the kids knew not to get her hair wet. She also enjoyed cooking large meals for holidays, including her white gravy.Preceding her in death were her parents, Otto and Rosa Vetter; her husband Leonard in 2008; brothers and sisters: Ida (Emil) Schmidt, Albert (Emme) Vetter, Raymond (Sally) Vetter, Selma (Dave) Dalgety, Margaret (Earl) Borkowski, Berniece (Art) Branning, Phyllis (Fred) Mumm, Valeria and Virgil in infancy; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Florence (Lawrence) Griffin, Raymond Riessen, Milo Riessen, Orville (Marie) Riessen, Arlo Jahn, George and Ella Riessen; 3 nephews and 1 niece.Survivors include two daughters: Rona (Richard) Bromert of Vail, Iowa and Lana (Terry) Ragaller of Story City, Iowa; four grandchildren: Justin (Ann) Bromert of Vail, Iowa, Brandon (Angie) Ragaller of Schaumburg, Illinois, Lance Bromert and friend Meghan Hancock of Dow City, Iowa, and Trent (Lauren) Ragaller of Ankeny, Iowa; one step-granddaughter: Chantelle Bromert of St. Louis, Missouri; four great-grandchildren: Kallie, Karson, Mataya and Jace Bromert; three step great-grandchildren: Keely, Shea, and Patrick O’Connell; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law: Elvira Riessen of Denison, Iowa., Arlene Jahn of Denison, Iowa, and Arlo (Marlys) Riessen of Green Valley, Arizona; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at the United Presbyterian Church in Vail, Iowa, with Rev. Richard Francis officiating. Music for the service included the congregation singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” and Sue Rosener singing “The Lord’s Prayer” and “Hymn of Promise” with Ruth Noelck as accompanist. Serving as pallbearers were Ruth’s grandchildren: Justin and Ann Bromert, Brandon and Angie Ragaller, Lance Bromert and friend Meghan Hancock and Trent and Lauren Ragaller. Interment was at the Vail Cemetery, Vail, Iowa. Following the interment the family invited everyone return to the church and join them for fellowship and a luncheon provided and served by Lidderdale Country Store and the United Presbyterian Women.A visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 15, 2015, at the United Presbyterian Church in Vail.The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.