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Ruth Anderson-Giese

Sioux City--Ruth Anderson-Giese of Sioux City passed into the loving arms of Jesus Christ on Nov. 21, 2011, at a Sioux City nursing home. The remains were cremated. A service will be held at a later date for the convenience of distant relatives and friends. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City.

Ruth was born Jan. 10, 1920, on a farm near Hazen, North Dakota, via a midwife , to Edward and Regina Knecht. Ruth went to a county grade school and two years at Hazen High School. She then moved to Sioux City and graduated from Central High School in 1930.

She met and married John Wickham in 1939 and continues to live in Sioux City. Their son, Gary, was born September 4, 1943. John entered the U.S. Navy and was sent to Hawaii. He was discharged Jan. 6, 1946. John and Ruth began building a home at 4425 Polk Street, where John suddenly passed away in the night of Oct. 9, 1947. Ruth later married Dolan Anderson on July 3, 1953. They built a home at 4637 Fillmore Street in 1965, where they lived until Dolan's death (in 1985). Dolan worked as a machinist at Sioux Tools for 35 years.

Ruth's son, Gary, married Karen Simonson in 1964. They were the parents of Anita, Beth and Neil. Gary passed away suddenly while on a family vacation in July 1973.

Ruth and Harlan Giese were introduced to each other by a mutual friend in September 1991 and they were married on Oct. 10, 1992, at St. John Lutheran Church by Ruth's brother, the Rev. Paul Knecht. Harlan is a veteran of World War II and a professional civil engineer.

Ruth worked at many clerical positions in Sioux City and was a hostess and cashier at Green Gables and Normandy restaurants. She was also a caregiver to various elderly ladies and did kosher cooking for Marvin Klass and Sam Shapiro.

Ruth was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church for many years and was active in church affairs until macular degeneration robber her of her eyesite. Ruth and Harlan enjoyed traveling and visiting friends and relatives throughout the country. ruth never forgot a friend and she had friends from almost every state in the nation.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Harlan H. Giese; two brothers, Paul Knecht of Richmond, Indiana, and Helmuth Knecht of Hazen, North Dakota; a sister, Lillian DiMaggio of Anaheim, California.; grandchildren, Anita (Wickham) and Brian Newhouse of Minneapolis, Bethel (Wickham) and Steve Negri of Litchfield Park, Arizona, and Dr. Neil and Lori Wickham of Cedar Falls, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Henry Lee, Eleanor, and William Newhouse, Andrew Negri and Brianna and Zachary Wickham. From Harlan's side of the family there are Harlan Jr., of Bettendorf, Iowa, mary Giese of Winchester, Virginia, and William and Bonnie Giese; and granddaughter, Sarah of Strasburg, Virginia.

She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, November 23, 2011

~Contributed by her niece, Jackie