Ruth Florence Rovang

JOICE - Ruth F. Rovang, 93, of Joice, died Tuesday (August 23, 2011) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Saturday, August 27th at the Fertile Lutheran Church with Rev. Don Burton and lay pastor, Dave Halverson officiating. Burial will be in Beaver Creek Lutheran Cemetery near Joice.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Friday at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorials may be given in her memory to Hospice of North Iowa or Fertile Lutheran Church.

Ruth Florence Rovang, the daughter of Fred I. and Florence (Zook) Ward, was born February 26, 1918, in Sheffield. She completed her elementary education and graduated from Swaledale Consolidated School in 1934. Ruth received her teaching certificate after attending Iowa State Teachers College. In 1937, she began her teaching career at the Fuller country school near Burchinal which was where her mother had first taught, as well. She also taught in the New Providence and Forest City school systems. In later years, she completed course work at North Iowa Area Community College, and Iowa State and Mankato State Universities. She was a member of the Forest City Education Association and later on an active member in the Retired Teachers Association. She was a long-time middle school mathematics teacher, retiring in 1983. In recognition of her teaching accomplishments, she was inducted into the Forest City Education Hall of Fame in 1996. Ruth was a devout Christian. She was baptized in the Swaledale Methodist Church and following her marriage was confirmed in the Eldora Lutheran Church. She was an active member of Beaver Creek Lutheran Church near Joice until its closing. She served in various officer positions in the Lutheran Church Women and Circle organizations and taught Sunday school for many years. Ruth also served as an officer of the North Iowa District Lutheran Church Women's organization. She currently was a member of Fertile Lutheran Church. Ruth assisted John for many years in their farming operation, and in 1961 they were named an Iowa Master Egg Producer. Ruth had a special interest in restoring antique furniture, gardening, and remodeling their beautiful old farmhouse near Fertile. Ruth served as a 4-H leader for many years. Ruth and John enjoyed traveling and made several trips to Europe to visit the areas of their ancestors. Historical documents reflected the Ward family immigrated from Cornwall, England, in the mid-1800's. They were also actively involved in the Republican Party, Farm Bureau and the Worth County Historical Society. On July 6, 1942, she was married to John Rovang of Joice in a lawn wedding at her family farm. They celebrated 64 years of marriage in 2006 before his death in 2007. Ruth then remained on the farm she loved until entering Hospice following a cerebral hemorrhage. She loved her family and took great pride and effort in preparing for the multiple family gatherings held at the farm.

She is survived by her two sons, Douglas (Rosaline) Rovang of Rochester, MN, and Richard (Kathie Doty) Rovang of Eagan, MN; a daughter, Donna (Brent) Orton of Mason City; six grandchildren, Michelle (Bryan) Burke, Ann (Matt) Wolff, Mark (Karen), Matthew, Chrismar and Kiersten Orton; five great-grandchildren, Nicholas and John Burke, Abigail and Elizabeth Wolff, and Ryann Orton; sisters-in-law, Esther Ward of Swaledale and Virginia Ward of Mason City; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John; parents; son, Mark John; brothers, Virgil, J.C., Willard, Donald and Delbert; and a sister, Thelma Watson.