Ruth Esther Hanson

Ruth E. Hanson, 81, of Waukon, IA, died Friday, January 18, 2019, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Monday, January 21st, at 11:00 AM at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, IA, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Friends may call from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon or Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church.

Ruth Esther Hanson was born April 8, 1937, at the Hall Hospital in Waukon, IA, the daughter of Arthur and Esther (Winkie) Kruger. She was baptized at Zalmona Presbyterian Church and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church, both in Waukon. In 1955, Ruth graduated from Waukon High School and then went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and as a nurse's aide at Good Samaritan Center. On June 2, 1957, she married H. Kenneth Hanson at Zalmona Presbyterian Church. The couple farmed together in rural Harpers Ferry, IA, raising chickens, beef cattle, and hogs until 1977, when they moved into Waukon. It drove her nuts sitting around doing nothing, so Ruth kept busy working many jobs throughout her life. While still farming with Kenny, she also cooked at The Riv-Aire supper club and was the dietary supervisor at Thornton Manor, both in Lansing, IA. Ruth then owned and operated the Dari-O in Waukon for many years. After she sold the Dari-O, Ruth was the dietary supervisor at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She retired from the hospital and became the bookkeeper at Teslow's Clothing, worked at TASC and Pop's Produce, and was the bartender at the Waukon Golf and Country Club.

She was a member of Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, IA, where she was an integral part of the meatball supper committee and belonged to the quilting group and Naomi Circle. Ruth spent a lot of time on embroidery, making dish towels, quilts, and wall hangings, among other things. She also enjoyed going to her grandchildren's sporting events, cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes, reading Amish books, and maintaining her flower gardens and yard that she insisted on push mowing. Ruth did quite a bit of traveling as well, making trips to several places including: the Bahamas, Hawaii, Dominican Republic, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Colorado, and Arizona. Her passion was cooking and baking and had her recipes down to a precision; she loved baking pies, sugar cookies, and Aunt Sally's gingerbread cookies. Ruth also loved meeting people and having fun, possessing a smile and laugh that would light up the room.

Ruth is survived by her three children: Steven (Boni) Hanson of Harpers Ferry, Kristin (Eaton) Cote' of Waukon, and John (special friend Amy) Hanson of St. Charles, IL; grandchildren: Tyler and Brady Hanson, Alex (Tiffany) and Zachary (fiancé Marissa) Cote', and Paige, Abbigail, and Ashley Hanson; great-grandchildren: Porter, Amelia, and Hazel Cote' and Charlie Wilwerding; her brother Merlin Kruger of Lansing; sister Janice McNitt of The Villages, FL; and her nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Kenny in 1978; infant brother Virgil; infant sister Grace; and brother Kermit Kruger.

Honorary casketbearers are Ruth's grandchildren and great-grandchildren.