Ruth (Albert) Stone, 96, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, formerly of Boone and Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Monday, July 17, 2023, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Pastor Kirk Flaa will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Ruth (Albert) Stone was born on February 3, 1927 in Le Mars, IA. She was the oldest of two children born to Mabel and William Albert. She is preceded in death by her parents; her son, Mark Stone; her brother, David Albert; and her sister-in-law, Sharon Albert.

Ruth grew up on a farm near Le Mars, IA. She lived through the depression, a severe drought, and WWII where she lost three first cousins. She attended high school in Le Mars, Western Union College (Westmar), and the University of Northern Iowa. She became a teacher and taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grades in several towns in Iowa.

She was married in 1951, and from this union three children were born--Marla, Mark, and Paul. The family moved to Boone, Iowa in 1955. Ruth was a dedicated mother and homemaker. She cooked, sewed clothes, and volunteered with her children's activities in school, church, 4-H, and Cub Scouts. She also worked as a substitute teacher at the Boone Community School District. Later, she worked at the National Animal Disease Lab in Ames, IA where she retired in 1989. She enjoyed traveling to visit her children where they lived in 9 different states. She welcomed five grandchildren and one great grandchild into the world and enjoyed spending time with them.

Ruth had a personal relationship with Jesus as described in Romans 10:9,10. She was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church. At the Boone, IA United Methodist Church, she volunteered in many areas including serving in the United Methodist Women's' group, the Memorial Committee, and taught Sunday School for many years.

She was skilled in sewing and needlework, and knitted hundreds of stocking hats for the needy. She enjoyed music, which included playing the piano and playing her cornet in High School, College, and City Bands. She also enjoyed gardening and flowers, and bird watching was a favorite hobby of hers.

She bravely lived with Multiple Sclerosis for many years, living independently until 2013 when moving to a nursing home in Sioux Falls, SD.

She will be lovingly remembered by a daughter, Marla (Mark) Dawson of Sioux Falls, SD; son, Paul (Sylvia) Stone of Blue Springs, MO; daughter-in-law, Julia (husband, Mark deceased) Stone of Boone, IA; grandchildren: Kim Stone of Austin, TX, Jeff (Jessica) Stone of Mills River, NC, Jenna Blake (and great- grandson, Callen Blake) of Sioux Falls, SD, Leah (Alex) Pennington of Lexington, KY and Lucas Stone of Blue Springs, MO; along with other special extended family members and friends.

Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial may direct their memorial gift to the Mitten Tree at the First United Methodist Church in Boone, Iowa or to Hope Ministries (https://www.hopeiowa.org/) in Des Moines, Iowa.