Ruby Flaaten -- Kensett, Iowa

Published April 28, 2017 at 12:46 PM

Ruby Cheryl Flaaten, 72, died at Lake Mills Care Center, Lake Mills on April 24, 2017.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday, May 1, at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church, in rural Kensett, with the Rev. Tom Martin officiating. Burial will be in the Elk Creek Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home, Northwood.

Ruby Cheryl Flaaten was born Dec. 12, 1944, in Mason City, Iowa, to Truman and Truly (Ones) Flaaten. She grew up on the family farm west of Kensett, Iowa, the oldest of four children. She was baptized and confirmed at Elk Creek Lutheran Church rural Kensett. She received her education at Northwood Kensett Schools, graduating in 1962. Her advanced education was in Rochester, receiving a Registered Nurse Diploma from Methodist (Kahler) School of Nursing in 1965.

Her nursing career, 1965-2000, was at Methodist Hospital in Rochester. She worked on the "Ear, Nose and Throat" unit as Head Nurse. She was involved in Minnesota Nursing Association, American Nursing Association and the Alumni Association, where she served as President and Secretary/Treasurer for many years. She can be found in the Who's Who of American Nurses.

Upon retiring in 2000, she came home to the farm and was caregiver to her mother.

Her church was her love, where she served as Financial Secretary for years. She also was involved in WELCA.

Ruby was an avid reader, caregiver, and leader. She was soft spoken and extremely humble. A "Loved" person we shall not soon forget.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Truman and Truly Flaaten; and sister, Trudy Bendickson.

Ruby is survived by her sister, Karen Rollenhagen of Colorado Springs, Colo., Karen's children: son, Fred Rollenhagen of Lakewood, Colo., daughter, Kari (Ken) Duncan of Oregon City, Ore. and their children, Kenneth Dale Duncan IV and Truman Elisha, son, Tim (Brooke) Rollenhagen of Parker, Colo. and their children, Maggie Lynn, Julie Ann and Jack Vincent; her brother, Truman Kevin (Sandy) Flaaten of Sussey, Wis. and their children: daughter, Molly (Guy) Webster of Lexington, Ky. and their children, Makayla Elaine, Andrew Linn and Truman Bruce, son, Adam (Laura) Flaaten of Houston, Texas, and son, Seth Flaaten of Sussex, Wis. and his children, Everett Anderson and Nightingale Elise; and her brother-in-law, Drew Bendickson of Northwood, Iowa.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood, 641-324-1121, www.schroederandsites.com.