Ruthie Rankin

Ruthie C. Rankin, age 70, of Meenon Twp, WI, passed away Monday, October 24, 2016. Ruthie was born July 31, 1946, in Grantsburg, WI, to Hazel Ruth (Doe) and Walter Carl Hall. She attended Perida grade school and was a 1964 graduate of Webster High School. She also attended the John Casablanca Modeling School. On June 23, 1989, Ruthie married Wally Rankin under an apple tree in Cottage Grove, MN. They lived in Cottage Grove and then Woodbury, MN. After retirement, Ruthie and Wally moved to the Webster area. They loved spending time outdoors at their home on Bass Lake, especially during the warm summer months. They also enjoyed their winters in Mission, TX, and visiting the Ice House Tavern. Prior to her retirement, Ruthie was employed as a Proof Reader at West Publishing Corp. in Saint Paul, MN. She previously was co-owner and bar tender at Lone Pine Tavern on County Road A, east of Webster. During this time, Ruthie played on the women’s softball team named the “Gravel Gerties.” She had also been a bartender at The Tap in Webster during her retirement years. Ruthie was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Webster. She had a very strong belief in the Lord and her family was of paramount importance to her. She appreciated spending time with family and friends, and enjoyed attending events involving her grandchildren. She also loved hosting family dinners and parties. Ruthie appreciated the finer things that life offered, and was extremely fond of gold and diamond jewelry. She was a very “colorful” person. She had a wonderful sense of humor, and welcomed “clean” jokes. Ruthie was affectionately acknowledged as “Classy, Sassy, and a little bit Smartassie.” She is preceded in death by her parents: Walter and Hazel Hall; her husband, Wally, who passed away October 18, 2013; siblings: Robert Hall, Alfred Hall, Violet (James) Formanek, Stanley Hall and Darlene Baker; as well as brother-in-law, Gerald Rankin; and sister-in-law, Deanna Rankin. Ruthie is survived by her children: Kim (Jerry) Stypula, Denise (David) Lunsman, Dale (Cheryl) Doriott, and Lori Evans; grandchildren: Danielle (Josh) Hanson, Curtis Stypula, Melissa Brown, Trevor Fontaine, Charles (Jenna) Lunsman, Courtney Lunsman, Carter Doriott, and Emily Doriott; and great-grandchildren: Aubri, Chloe, and Oliver Hanson; Gavyn Brown, and Dayne Staege. Also surviving are siblings: Ardus Crandell, Donald (Phylis) Hall, Dorothy Larson, Roland (Linda) Hall, and Harold (Judy) Hall; sisters-in-law, Darlene Hall and Penny Hall; brother-in-law, Rod (Nancy) Rankin; and sister-in-law, Karen Nash. Relatives and friends of Ruthie Rankin may call from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, WI. Her memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 am (visitation 10:00 to 11:00 am), Wednesday, Nov. 2nd, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS), Webster, WI, with Pastor Jody R. Walter officiating. Private interment will be held at Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spooner, WI. Arrangements have been entrusted with Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Webster, WI.