The memorial service for Ruth Pleiss will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, at Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. John Henrikson will officiate. Burial will be in Ft. Snelling Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and one hour before the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea veterans’ organizations.

Ruth died on Saturday, July 22, 2006, at her home in Albert Lea. She was 85 years old.

Ruth was born in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Aug. 8, 1920, the daughter of Melvin and Margaret (Glenn) Thompson. She was a 1938 graduate of Parker High School, Parker, S.D. and a graduate of Methodist Hospital Nursing School in Sioux City, Iowa. She worked in the Public Health Department for the city of Sioux City, Iowa prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army Nurse Corp. She served during World War II from 1944 to 45 at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Colorado. Following her discharge from the Army she was in the Army Reserves for eight years.

On Dec. 31, 1950, Ruth was united in marriage with Robert B. Pleiss at First Methodist Church in Parker, S.D. They are members of Grace Lutheran Church where Ruth had been active in women’s groups. She had worked as an industrial nurse at Queen Stove, a nurse at Naeve Hospital, and a charge nurse at St. John’s Lutheran Home before retiring in 1982.

She had been a member of the American Legion where she had served as chaplain, and had been one of the organizers of the Freeborn County Women’s Veterans Organization. She had been a member of Son’s of Norway, YMCA Swimnastics, Y’sMenetts, and a women’s Travel Club. Ruth enjoyed sewing, rosemalling, hardanger, and traveling. She

attended 15 Elder Hostel trips and bus tours. She especially enjoyed her trip to Germany with her daughter, Marggi and family this spring.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Bob of Albert Lea; son, Michael (Pam) Pleiss of Albert Lea; daughter, Marggi (David) Sippola of Northfield; five grandchildren: Lisa Pleiss and her fianc, Jaime Salazar of Madison, Wis., Kristopher and Abby Pleiss of Albert Lea, Ben and McKinzie Sippola of Northfield; one brother, Robert Thompson of George, Iowa; special friends, Gerhard and Irmi Kleih of Albert Lea; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Margaret Thompson; two half brothers, Owen and Clement Thompson; two half sisters, Sada Henderson and Uneva Henderson; sister-in-law, Norine Thompson; mother and father-in-law, Ben and Doris Pleiss.

Ruth was a very caring, kind and gentle person. She was very proud of her children and her grandchildren who were the love of her life. She will be greatly missed. Blessed be her memory.