Ruby Haahr

Ruby Haahr, 98, of Newell died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, while residing at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake.

Funeral services will take place Thursday, Aug. 15, at 11 a.m. at Nain Lutheran Church in Newell. Burial will be in Newell Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell is in charge of the arrangements.

Ruby Caroline Lund was born April 2, 1926, in a house on a farm in rural Albert City. When she was two or three, the family moved to a big square house on a farm four miles west of Newell. She was the daughter of Hans Peter Lund and Dagmar Othilia (Andersen) Lund. Ruby attended and graduated from Providence Consolidated School in Sulphur Springs in 1943. She was active in many activities and after graduation, was particularly involved in and helped plan their class reunion functions.

On May 27, 1945, Ruby was united in marriage to Leon Haahr at Nain Lutheran Church in Newell. To this union three boys were born: Dennis, Dana and Ronald. Together they farmed four miles north of Newell until they moved to their new home in Newell in 2001. Their home was across the street from Newell Golf Course, the ball diamond, the city park where many hours were enjoyed being able to sit on the front porch and watch all of the activities. Ruby and Leon also attended as many Newell Providence/Newell-Fonda sporting events as they could fit into the schedule.

Ruby was a lifetime member of Nain Lutheran Church where she was active in many of the committees and activities. She participated in Ladies Aid, taught Sunday School and was often found in the kitchen helping prepare special meals for many functions. She was also a member of community clubs: Danish Sisterhood, Eastern Star and NCN Club.

Of special interest to Ruby was family history. She spent many hours tracing her Danish history and updating the family trees of the Haahr, Lund and Andersen families. These family updates were compiled and passed out to other members at the yearly family reunions. Large family get-togethers at the Lund or Haahr family homes were commonplace and looked forward to. Family members enjoyed her special family meals often influenced by her Danish heritage.

Left to cherish her memories are sons and wives: Dennis and Jane of Ames; and Dana and Joyce of Newell; grandchildren: Nik Haahr, Lauren (Jeff) Wood, Traci (Matt) Pawlowski and Tammi Snow; great-grandchildren: Easton, Aaron, Justin, Koty, Stephanie and Mikayla; and six great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Verla Reding of St. Peter, Minn.; and JoAn Lund of Storm Lake.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband Leon; son Ronald; sisters, Ellen (Arnold) Rasmussen and Agnes (Melvin) Grundmeier; and brothers, Elwood (Goldie) Lund and Norman (JoAn) Lund.