Ruth Friest

 Ruth Friest died March 12, 2015, at Lutheran Living Campus in Muscatine, Iowa.

     A funeral service was held on Monday, March 16, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Kirk Wilkie officiating.    Interment was at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.  Memorials may be given to the Lutheran Living Campus, Muscatine. 

Ruth Avis Norstrud was born Jan. 25, 1925, in Forest City, Iowa, to Oley and Estella (Larson) Norstrud.  She married Lowell “Bud” Friest on Sept. 2, 1945, in Forest City. They farmed near Ventura for over 45 years.

Ruth enjoyed fishing and snowmobiling with Bud; reading, gardening, and decorative painting.

Ruth is survived by her two daughters, Gail Friest-Blink (Bob Blink), of Rhodes, Iowa; Sheryl (Lavene) Payne, of Muscatine; two sons, Dennis Friest, of Scarville, Iowa; and Gordon Friest, of St. Paul, Minn.; six grandchildren, Lynette (Andres) Cabrera, of Del Valle, Texas; Erin (Cory) Christiansen, of North Liberty, Iowa; Anna Payne, of Muscatine; Derek (Samantha) Friest, of Mason City; Melinda (Matthew) Winter, of Mason City; Stephanie Friest, of Cottage Grove, Minn.; five great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ila Martin, of Mesa, Arizona.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Duane; her husband, Lowell “Bud” Friest; one granddaughter, Priscilla Friest; and two brothers, Clarence Norstrud, of Texas, and Iven Norstrud of Britt, Iowa.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.