Ruby Aesoph

Ruby Aesoph, 95, of Akron, CO and formerly of Orient, SD passed away, Thursday, November 21, 2013 at the Washington County Nursing Home in Akron, CO.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 30, 2013 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Orient with Fr. Joji Itukulapti officiating. Burial followed in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Orient.

Ruby Iona (Chambers) Aesoph was born on Jan 13, 1918 in Lesterville, SD.  She was preceded in death by her parents, 1 brother and 2 sisters, her husband Moses, son Terrance Michael, and 4 grandchildren, Jason, Kelly and Nel Aesoph and Ryan Gonyo.

Ruby moved with her family at a very early age to Burkmere, SD where they resided on the farm.  Ruby did a great job of keeping a journal much of her life and left so many wonderful details of her life.

As a child she and her sisters played paper dolls cut from a catalog.  When they tired of them they let them blow into the wind, only to cut a new batch from a new catalog.  She remembered riding around in the field on an old push binder at harvest time and wading in the slews near the farm stead.

She recalls that her middle name, Iona, was derived from a saying at the time of World War I “I own a bond,” and so she became Ruby Iona.  Ruby loved living on the open prairies of South Dakota.  Summers were filled with field work, and winters with livestock chores.  They gathered around the fireplace as a family on those cold winter nights while their Mom read stories to them.

They were a musical family and her Mom would play the piano and the family would sing and dance.  Later they formed a family band and played for house parties and barn dances.  Anyone who knew Ruby knew of her love for dancing.  She wrote, “we didn’t know we were poor because there was always love.”

Ruby had her high school education in Loyalton, SD and graduated as a senior in 1935.  She married Moses Aesoph shortly after that and continued to live the farm life where they raised 4 daughters and 2 sons.  They lost their son Terrance to illness at the age of 2.  Ruby worked hard on their farm often helping with field work, gardening, cooking, chores and tending children.

As the family grew and left the nest she found new interests to busy her life such as quilt making, crewel embroidering and oil painting.  All were works of art.  She and her husband retired to Orient, SD in 1974   where they continued to enjoy their new neighbors with card playing , church family  and her hobbies.

Ruby moved to Akron, Colorado in 1997 where she resided at Pioneer Haven until 2007.  While there she made many friends and enjoyed their coffee times, bingo and lunch gatherings.  She loved going to meet and eat where she played cards with her friends and loved the fellowship.  She was a faithful member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and was deeply committed to her faith in the Lord.  This seen her through the hard times of life.

As her health required she moved to Eben Ezer‘s assisted living in Brush, Colorado and lived there until 2010.  She enjoyed her stay there and was especially fond of their hot chocolate machine, and you would see her pushing her cup of hot chocolate on her walker each afternoon.

Once again, in the spring of 2010 she moved to Washington County Nursing Home to be closer to her daughter.  She was an active resident there, especially loving the music that came through.   You would see her dancing in the halls with her walker several times a day. 

During the last days of her life the care given to her from the staff at the nursing home was truly a blessing to her as well as her family. On the last days of her final journey she was surrounded by her loving family and those who worked among her and went home to be with the Lord on Nov 21^st, 2013.  She will be missed by all who loved her and knew her well.

Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Washington County Nursing Home in Akron, Colorado.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Ruby's arrangements.