Obituary of Ruth Packebush

A funeral service will be held Saturday, June 28th at 9:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Milford. Visitation will be on Friday, June 27th after 5:00pm with the family present from 5:00-7:00pm at St. Joseph Parish Center. There will be a Parish Vigil Service at 7:00pm. Ruth Catherine McDonald Packebush was born to James Thomas McDonald and Cora Irene (Jones) McDonald in Milford, Iowa on July 25, 1921. She graduated from Okoboji Consolidated High School on May 18, 1939. On September 7, 1942, she was united in marriage to Merle Edward Packebush in Milford. They farmed on various farm locations northwest of Milford before Merle and Ruth purchased the family farm in 1959 which Ruth still owns and lived on until the death of her husband in 1998. Ruth was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford and was active in the Church Circle. One of her greatest pleasures was to be surrounded by her family and friends. She enjoyed being a farmer's wife and providing for her family throughout the years - gardening, canning, cooking, housekeeping and taking care of the children (and chickens). She especially enjoyed cooking with a specialty of chicken and noodle soup, "Oh Kid". Ruth was a strong willed woman and prided herself with her honesty, integrity and hard work ethic, which she instilled in her family. She also enjoyed reminiscing about the "old days" with her children and grandchildren. Ruth passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at the Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake at ninety-two years of age. She had resided at the Milford Care Center since January, 2010 due to a damaging stroke. Ruth is survived by son, Richard and Darolyn Packebush of Lake Park, IA; daughter-in-law, Lauri Packebush of Stanwood, WA; son, Edward and Brenda Packebush of Milford; nine grandchildren, Dallas Heikens, Donette Yaw, Darin Packebush, Tage Packebush, Dylan Packebush, Ross Packebush, Joel Packebush, Meagan Barnhart and Whitney Packebush; fifteen great-grandchildren, Taylor, Kade, Grace and Ree Heikens, Rylee, Mitchell and Claire Yaw, Coleton and Bradon Packebush, Chayse, Ava, Brekken and Slade Packebush and Bowden and Bella Barnhart. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, James, Robert and Kenneth; three sisters, Gladys Faye, Margaret and Mamie; one son, Donald.