Ruth Evelyn Haisch passed away at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, SD, on May 2, 2008 at the age of 89. She was born on May 6, 1918, in Winner, South Dakota. She was the seventh of nine children born to Oscar and Gertrude Haisch and grew up as a ranchers daughter, many years of which were at the Mule Head Ranch near Bonesteel. She had a happy, busy childhood full of exploring the outdoors, doing chores with the family and learning in small country schools.

Her early life taught her how to work hard and work well. Though the Depression years presented challenges, she persevered to graduate from high school and even went on to Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen. With her two-year teaching certificate, she was able to teach in country schools, which she did for a decade. When her brother, Hollis (Curley), needed help running the Mule Head, she went back to the ranch to manage the domestic operations, seeing to whatever needed to be done. Years later, she completed business courses and got an accounting position at E.W. Smith Company in Sioux Falls, all the while keeping her dream of more school alive. In 1969, she earned her degree in elementary education/library science and moved to the Olivia, MN, school system that same year.

Ruth spent many happy years in Olivia as the districts school librarian. She loved working with both younger and older students, helping them find what they needed in her large system of books and seeing the information and ideas kindle their learning. As an avid reader, she relished seeing young readers develop the same passion.

She retired from the Olivia school district in 1983, but continued to work hard and work well wherever she went. Ruth loved Jesus and greatly enjoyed working for Him at church and helping others in the simplest ways.

In retirement, Ruth lived many years with her sister, Martha, and continued to enjoy hobbies of reading, sewing, gardening, fishing, cards and traveling throughout the United States and the world. She spent many enjoyable winters in Arizona.

Ruths quiet, gentle manner would often give way to her dry sense of humorher twinkling blue eyes always gave her away. She loved her friends and especially her family, to whom she was a faithful daughter, sister and aunt. She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers Clayton, William and Lloyd; sisters Bernice Haisch, Helen Mae Anderson and Caroline Young. She is survived by brother Hollis (Curley) Haisch, sister Martha Mashek, sister-in-law Leigh Ann Haisch and many generations of nieces and nephews (23 nieces and nephews; 52 grand-nieces and grand-nephews).

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke. Burial will be in the Winner Cemetery, Winner. Visitation will be prior to the service Tuesday morning at the funeral home.