Ruth Lusk
July 22, 1919 ~ March 27, 2018
Ruth Lusk, 98, of Highmore, passed away Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at the Highmore Health in Highmore.
Funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Luze Funeral Home, Highmore with Pastor Roger Day officiating. Burial followed at the Highmore Cemetery. Visitation began one hour prior to the funeral service.
Ruth Lusk was born July 22, 1919 to Joseph and Agnes (Vondra) Thurston at home in Banner Township, Hyde County, South Dakota.
Ruth married Elmer Lusk in Highmore on November 8, 1940. Five children were born to this union. They farmed in Banner township until they moved to Highmore in November 1969. While living in Highmore, she worked at several different jobs, usually as a substitute or part time. These included custodian and cafeteria at the school, and the County extension office. Before marriage, she had worked at the Pierre Indian School.
Ruth had many talents and skills. She was an excellent cook and had a particularly green thumb for vegetables and flowers. She served on the township and county school boards for many years. She delivered Meals On Wheels and was active in her Circle at the Methodist Church. In her spare time she enjoyed cards and games, crocheting, and especially fishing. She also sewed many clothes for her family. She and Elmer loved to bowl and play bingo.
Ruth is survived by her children: Rita of Aurora, CO, Michael (Patty) of San Antonio, TX, and Gary (Martha) of Sioux Falls; daughter-in-law: Edna Lusk (Albert); seven grandchildren; several great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents; husband, Elmer; sons: Lysle and Albert; and her sister, Marion Stoley and her husband, Marion Stoley.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Hyde County Steps for Hope.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Ruth's arrangements.
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I am so sorry to hear about Ruth passing. I only met her once, at the nursing home in Highmore in 2015, in spite of growing up in the same area. I am grateful to have taken the time to meet her, and to be able to scan some of her photos for family history.
I will miss my Great Aunt Ruth. She was such a solid, happy, hard-working, fun-loving capable woman. She had a great smile, with crinkled eyes –that always seemed to know more about the situation than she would let on. She was very smart and had a good wit about her. I will include my late parents –Skip and Bev Bush –in with my greetings to her family. And of course, my late maternal grandparents –Earl and Esther Lusk –who were such close family and friends to Ruth. After Rita called this morning to tell me the news, I was a little sad to think that her funeral service may be a small group. All of her peers are gone –or perhaps in a home. And many of the following generation are widely dispersed or also passed on. Then I had a bright vision of all the Hyde county prairie kinfolk –Bohemian and otherwise –who had already passed on. Surely they would gather to honor Aunt Ruth and to welcome her into their next gathering –surely with a meal and a card party!
Rest in peace Ruth
So sorry for your loss. I enjoyed my visits with her.
Ruth was such a sweet sweet lady. She would say…every time I see Johns boat go by I wish I was on it. She talked about her kids and grandkids. She got the biggest kick out of telling about her grandson Marty calling her and asking what she was doing. She said….oh, I am just hooking. She then had to explain that she was CROCHETING . She would laugh and laugh when she told that story. I am going to miss that lovely smile of hers. Thinking of you all.
So sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. My heartfelt sympathy to all of Ruth’s family.
I am sorry to hear of your loss. Ruth was such a special person and I enjoyed visiting with her almost every day at the nursing home. She loved to speak of her family. She will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all.
I am sorry that u lost your mom….gosh 98 you had her for a long time but always so hard to loose some your love so much….mine was 86 when she passed…..You may not even remember me…..i suppose the most we were together as young ens was in 4-H….but i remember where your family lived……wish i would have seem the obituary earlier…..God Bless u and your family…. Donna Baloun Woodring (my parents were Don and Roberta .
I always enjoyed visiting with Ruth at the Nursing Home and also enjoyed the times I visited with you, Rita. Thoughts and Prayers Mary Thorson