Obituaries from the week of May 24, 2006

Barbara Fox, 48

Mass of Christian Burial for Barbara “Barb” Fox, 48, of Marshall, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 26, 2006, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday with a CCW Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a parish prayer service at 7:00 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on Friday at Rehkamp – Horvath Funeral Home in Marshall.

Barbara Jean (Shea) Fox was born on August 23, 1957, in Graceville, MN, to Duane and Virene (Knakmuhs) Shea. She graduated in 1975 from Walnut Grove High School and then attended two years of school at Granite Falls Vocational Technical School for Secretarial Training.

On January 6, 1979, Barb was united in marriage to Bruce Fox at Walnut Grove. The couple moved to Marshall where Barb worked at a variety of jobs including Kay’s Shoes, the A to Z Store, Cools Office Supply, County Fair, and she was currently working at Avera Marshall Medical Center in the cafeteria. Barb enjoyed golfing, bowling and an occasional trip to the casino. She belonged to a neighborhood craft club and a bunko club.

Barb died unexpectedly on Sunday, May 21, 2006, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

She is survived by her husband Bruce of Marshall, parents Duane and Virene of Walnut Grove, siblings Shirley (Gary) Serie of Lake Benton, Bernard (Becky) Shea of Alexandria and Donald (Renaye) Shea of Minneapolis, brother-in-law Denis VanDeWiele of Houston, TX and many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her sister Nancy VanDeWiele, grandparents Emmit and Mary Shea and Paul and Effie Knakmuhs.

Interment will be in the Tracy City Cemetery following the service and lunch at Holy Redeemer Church in Marshall.

Ruth Hewitt, 86

Ruth E. Hewitt age 86 of Tracy passed away peacefully on Friday, May 19. 2006 at Springside in Tracy. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Tracy Church of Christ. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Tracy Area Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:45 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Interment is in the Tracy Cemetery. The Tracy Area Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Ruth was born on April 22, 1920 in Superior, Iowa to Floyd and Blanche (Winter) Weaver. In 1936, she graduated as valedictorian from the Walnut Grove High School at the age of 16 years.

Ruth was united is marriage to Kenneth Hewitt on December 2, 1939. After their wedding Kenneth built the new family a home on the Hewitt family farm site where they lived for over 60 years. The couple raised seven children. Ruth was a gifted and competent farm wife and also helped in her husband Ken’s hobby of restoring cars.

In her younger years, Ruth was active in her father’s rodeo at Plum Creek Ranch. Ruth was active in the Church of Christ Willing Workers, taught Sunday School and was the church secretary for many years. Ruth loved quilting with friends, playing cards and pinochle, and playing music with the family band.

Ruth is survived by her children: Effie (Duane) Hacklander of Prescott, AZ, Harold (Nancy) Hewitt of Walnut Grove, Eleanor “Dolly” Hewitt of Tracy, Joyce “Sunny” Ruthchild of Walnut Grove, Richard (Susan) Hewitt of Cambridge, MN, and Robert Hewitt of Tracy; 18 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; sister Esther (Darrol “Blackie”) Scheiber of Salinas, CA and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Kenneth in 2001, son Kent, two brothers and one sister.