Ruth Harrison

Ruth E. Harrison, 93, of Anita, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at Caring Acres Nursing and Rehab in Anita.

Ruth Elaine was born February 8, 1925, in Macedonia, Iowa, to Fay L. and Celia E. (Young) Holladay. The family moved to the Anita area when Ruth was young and she attended rural school northeast of Anita. She then attended Anita High School graduating with the class of 1942. She went on to attend the Radio and Television Institute in Omaha, Nebraska.

On January 14, 1943, Ruth married Gail Russell Harrison in Winona, Minnesota.

She worked at WKBH, a local radio station in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Once returning to the Anita area, Ruth was employed at Spurgeon’s and several other businesses before being Ward Secretary at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. She retired from the hospital in 1988.

Ruth was a member of the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, the Garden Club and was active in the Pythian Sisters.

Ruth liked to cook and was part of a group that assembled little dresses.

Ruth loved her children, their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She would do anything humanly possible to help them. Her family was her life and she enjoyed having them and her friends around her.

She left us with, “God is my salvation and life. Let not your heart be troubled. For thine is the Kingdom and the Glory forever. Amen.”

Preceding Ruth in death were her parents; her husband, Gail; and her daughter-in-law, Avis.

Survivors of Ruth include her sons, Russell Harrison of Torrington, WY, Kenny (Dee) Harrison of Anita, Iowa; her daughter, Wyoma (Ronald) Denney of Anita, IA; grandchildren, Shane (Mindi) Harrison of Griswold, IA, Kenna (Eric) Johnson of Winterset, IA, Seth (Amber) Harrison of Humboldt, IA, Krista (Ryan) Simmer of West Des Moines, IA, Jon (Sarah) Denney of Urbandale, IA, Frank (fiancé, Tawnee Rebhuhn) Denney of Minneapolis, MN, Bobbi Jo (Arnold) O’Neal of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Jacki Askelson of Johnston, IA; great-grandchildren, Cooper Harrison, Macy and Brock Johnson, Genevieve and Adelaide Harrison, Claudia Simmer, Braxton and Scarlett Denney, Taylor O’Neal, Aiden and Avis Askelson. Also, her special Caring Acres friend, Joanne Black.

Visitation with family will be from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m., with a funeral starting at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 14, 2018, at the United Methodist Church in Anita, Iowa.

Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Anita, Iowa.

Memorials may be left to the family to use per Ruth’s wishes.