Ruth Stady

Ruth (Franzen) Stady, 97, treasured wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, died peacefully after a brief illness Friday, May 13, 2016 at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph, MI. The service celebrating her life will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 19 in the Capitol Hill Lutheran Church chapel in Des Moines, IA.  Cremation has taken place and a private burial will be at a later date at Masonic Cemetery. Ruth was born October 13, 1918 in Des Moines to Gust and Anna (Carlson) Franzen, older sister to Alvar. She graduated from East High School and business school. She was united in marriage to Charles Stady on October 4, 1941. Ruth and Charles lived in Des Moines and wintered in Tampa, FL in their retirement years. Ruth moved to Tampa in 1991 then to Stevensville, MI in 2010. She worked for the Iowa Department of Agriculture for 17 years, retiring in 1983 as a Labeling Specialist for the Meat Inspection Division. In Des Moines, Ruth was an active member of Capitol Hill Lutheran Church, where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She especially enjoyed her Swedish heritage.  She was a proud member of the East High School Alumni Association. Ruth’s retirement years were filled with fun, friends, and bridge at Regency Cove in Tampa. She also enjoyed their baking contests where she won a few blue ribbons.  Ruth adored her grandson and enjoyed hearing about his travel adventures. Ruth is survived by two children: Carolyn (Richard) Anderson of Plymouth, MN and Kathryn Stady of Stevensville, MI; one grandchild, Charles Anderson of Minneapolis, MN; two nieces and two nephews and her grandcats, especially Kitty who she rescued in Tampa. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Charles and her son, Calvin. A special thanks to the staff of the Whitcomb for their friendship and loving care of Ruth. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Capitol Hill Lutheran Church in Des Moines, IA, Hospice at Home in St. Joseph, MI or the donor’s choice. Arrangements by Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph, MI. Those wishing to sign Ruth’s memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.