Hoven: Ruth Van Well, 86, of Hoven died Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at the Bowdle Hospital.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2013, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hoven, with Father Brian Simon, celebrant, and Father Kevin Doyle, con-celebrant.
Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
There will be a wake service at the church at 5 p.m. Friday, with visitation beginning at 4 p.m.
Ruth Mary Miles (Rausch) Van Well, daughter of John P. and Meta (Loding) Miles, was born June 28, 1926, near Seneca. Her formal education consisted of rural school and Polo High School, Class of 1944.
Ruth married Michael (Harold) Rausch, son of Nick and Catherine Rausch, on Aug. 29, 1950, in St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hoven.
Harold and Ruth lived and farmed 5 miles southwest of Hoven. They were blessed with five children. Harold was killed in a tragic farm accident on Oct. 28, 1959. Ruth married Aloysius Van Well on June 25, 1960. Ruth and Aloysius had one child. Aloysius died Dec. 19, 2002.
Ruth enjoyed a 25-year career as an LPN, having taken her college and nurses training at Presentation College and St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen. She also worked for Social Services and Respite. Ruth was an active member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, St. Anthony's Altar Society, the Catholic Order of Foresters, American Legion Auxiliary, Holy Infant Hospital Auxiliary, Hoven Prayer Group and other organizations in the community. She enjoyed baking, gardening, sewing, crocheting, playing cards and letter writing.
Grateful for having shared Ruth's life are four sons: Arnold (Debra) Rausch of Laurel, Md., Donald Rausch and Reynold Rausch of Rapid City and Larry (Tamara) Rausch of Blanchester, Ohio; one daughter, LaVonne (Earl) Kruse of Aberdeen; six grandchildren: Brent (Kellee) Kruse, Lauri (Mike) Finnegan, Alicia Rausch, Rachel Rausch, Emma Rausch and Robert Rausch; three great-grandsons: Benjamin and William Finnegan and Marcus Kruse; and one brother, Paul (Hank) Miles of St. Paul, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her father; her mother; both husbands; an infant daughter, Sheila; a son, Andrew Van Well; a sister, Dorothy Braun; and a brother, John Miles.
Honorary bearers will be the staffs at the Holy Infant Hospital in Hoven and the Bowdle Nursing Home.
Please visit millelienfh.com to leave an online condolence or to view the video tribute.
Lien Funeral Home of Bowdle is in charge of arrangements.