Alta M. Ruby, age 88, of Sheldon, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
Her services will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, February 15, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Sheldon with Rev. Kevin Gingerich ~ officiating. Burial will be in the East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon.
Visitation will be Friday, February 14, 2014 after 3 P.M. with the family present from 4 to 6 P.M. at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.
Online memorial condolences may be sent to: vanderploegfunerals.com
Arrangements are under the care of Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon, Iowa.
Alta Mae Ruby, the daughter of Albert and Merle Gintert, was born on February 16, 1925, at her parent’s home in Shellsburg, Iowa. When she was three years old, her family moved to Clarence, Iowa where they lived until after her high school freshman year. The family moved to Sheldon, Iowa in June 1939, where she graduated from high school in 1942. She was very active during her high school years in music, drama, and athletics. She sang in the Methodist Church Choir and was a member of the Methodist Youth Fellowship. After graduating from Sheldon High, she worked in Des Moines, Iowa for one year for the Town Mutual Dwelling Insurance Company. In July 1943, she accepted a position at the Security State Bank in Sheldon, serving there until December 1944. In September 1943, she was asked to assist with organizing the Civil Air Patrol Unit in Northwest Iowa. She was appointed an officer in the Sheldon Squadron serving as Adjutant in the CAP. She was then appointed official recruiter for the Air-Wac, traveling in the area giving talks to women’s services. Carrying the rank of Lieutenant, she was the first lady to make successful solo cross country flight. She flew from Sheldon to Estherville to Algona and back to Sheldon. Her military plans were changed when she was united in marriage to LT. Carl Ruby at the Sheldon Methodist Church on December 25, 1944. They made their home in Hot Springs, Arkansas where Carl was serving as an army officer until his discharge.
In January 1946, they returned to Iowa and made their home in Hartley where they raised and educated their five children. Alta was a member of the Hartley Methodist Church serving in many capacities. She also enjoyed participating in the community plays, musicals, and patriotic programs. She was active in the Hartley Band Boosters, Eastern Star, and IFWC Friday Club. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and held many offices in the organization. Alta and Carl were Methodist Youth Fellowship counselors for three years. Alta and Carl moved to West Okoboji Harbor in Spirit Lake, Iowa in 1977 and lived there for twenty five years. They were active members in the Spirit Lake Methodist Church. Alta served on the West Okoboji Harbor board for two years and for three years on the Iowa Great Lakes Ministry Board. She was a member of the Dickinson County Hospital Auxiliary for two years. Alta and Carl loved to Travel. They went on many camping trips with their family as they were growing up. Later, the couple traveled throughout the United States and abroad. They spent thirteen years in Mesa, Arizona during the winter months. In May, 2002, Alta and Carl moved back to Sheldon, this being their dream to move back home. Their happiness was short lived as Carl passed away in August, 2002. By this time, Alta’s activities were limited due to her neuropathy and cancer, but she always remained positive. Alta stayed in their condo in Sheldon until it was to difficult to live alone. She moved to Fieldcrest Assisted Living where she had been residing the past five years. Alta’s family always came first. She was a constant support to her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her God-given challenge was to share her deep faith in God and to teach her children and their families of God’s word, His love, and His promises for their lives. She was an inspiration to everyone she met.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Merle Gintert; her husband, Carl; her brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Maxine Gintert; her brother-in-law, Donald Garman; her daughter-in-law, Cynthia Ruby; and her infant great grandson, Brogan Perkins.
Those left to cherish her memory are her five children: Douglas and Diane Ruby of Visalia, CA; Carla and Wendell Putnam of Colorado Springs, CO; Dr. Roger and Myra Ruby of Sheldon; Gary Ruby of Dalhart, TX and SFC Russell and Cheryl Ruby of Scotland, SD; her sister, Beverly Garman of Allen, TX; her brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Norma Gintert of Santa Cruz, CA; twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, and many relatives and friends.
