Ruth Monk
May 2, 2011

Ruth L. Monk, daughter of Milo (Steve) and Etna Cooper, was born June 10, 1920 in Shenandoah, Iowa. She passed away on Monday, May 2, 2011 at Fair Oaks Care Center in Shenandoah at the age of 90.
Living in Shenandoah most of her lifetime, Ruth received her education from the Shenandoah Community Schools.
On July 17, 1948, in a double ring ceremony, Ruth was united in marriage to Alvin C. Monk at Rock Port, Missouri in the presence of Alvin's mother. Ruth was a member of the First Baptist Church in Shenandoah.
Ruth loved to work. She worked around home and was also employed by two different companies. Her favorite job was as office secretary working with her husband, Alvin, at Watson Brothers Transportation in Red Oak and later at Nebraska City.
After Watson Brothers closed in Nebraska City, Ruth worked as a secretary comptroller at Morton House Kitchens for eight years. She later was employed by the Nebraska Farmers Union as office manager and head bookkeeper, serving under two presidents of the company, Elton Berck of Lincoln and Louis Wiebe of Beatrice, NE.
Ruth enjoyed all types of sewing and crocheting. Her outside activity was her lodge work. Ruth was a past Guardian of Job's Daughters, past Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star Queen Esther #1, and past Noble Grand of Rebekah Lodge #364 for two years in 1959 and 1960 while living in Nebraska. Upon retirement, Ruth's Rebekah membership was transferred to Iowa, where she served as the 1990 Noble Grand of the Shenandoah Lodge. She was Noble Grand for the Red Oak Lodge during 1992 and 1993.
Preceding Ruth in death were her parents; husband, Alvin; four sisters, Betty Mace, Edith Scott, La Vita Waldron and Mildred Edens; three brothers, Donald, Robert and Merrill Cooper; and nephew, Steven.
Survivors include her daughter, Jo Ann and husband Harold of Imogene, IA; three granddaughters, DeAnna Tibben and husband Bradley of Nevada, IA, Kristy McClain and husband Kevin of Frisco, CO, and Danell Duncan and husband Trevor of Grimes, IA; four great grandchildren, Jakob and Abigail Tibben and JoElla and Larissa Duncan; brother, Kenneth Cooper and wife Barbara of Essex, IA; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

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