Ruth Grueneich

Rock Rapids, IA  CLICK HERE TO WATCH FUNERAL SERVICE LIVESTREAM

Ruth Grueneich, age 94 of Rock Rapids, IA died Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids.

Funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Monday, April 28th at Faith Baptist Church in Rock Rapids. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids.

Visitation with family present, will be Monday, from 10:00 AM to the time of service at Faith Baptist Church in Rock Rapids, with Pastor Tanner Van Beek and Pastor Mike Kurrle officiating.

Ruth Ursula Grueneich was born in Burstall, Saskatchewan, Canada, the daughter of Gustav and Wilhelmina (Zeitner) Strauss. She was raised on a family farm near Springside, Saskatchewan and attended country school. She loved spending time with her dad as she helped on the family farm. After her education she worked as a housekeeper and nanny for area families. She later worked as a cook at the CTI Christian Training Institute in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. It was there while working she met and married Reuben Grueneich on July 24, 1954. The young couple set out on their lives together to raise a family and serve the Lord. Reuben and Ruth moved to Sioux Falls, SD where he finished his education and graduated from the North American Baptist Seminary in 1959. Reuben served many churches over the years, with Ruth by his side. The first of which was a small country church near Dell Rapids, SD while Reuben was still in Seminary. After four years of service to that church they moved to Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan, Canada where another congregation was waiting. After serving in Golden Prairie for 4 years, they then moved their family to Martin, ND, where they served for 6 years, the last years there Rueben also served Rosenfeldt Baptist Church. They then moved their family to Startup, WA. The next call was to Linton, ND where they remained for 5 years after which their ministry was called to Rock Rapids and they served at Faith Baptist Church. While in Rock Rapids, in addition to serving the church, she prepared meals for Dinner Date and Lyon Manor Nursing Home. In 1993 they once again were called to serve at a new location, Village Creek Bible Camp and Ruth served as the main cook. While serving at camp, Reuben was pastor at Center Baptist in Lansing, IA. Reuben and Ruth were forced into retirement after a terrible accident they experienced in 2004.

On December 28, 2018, Ruth’s husband of 64 years, Reuben died.

Ruth continued living in Branson, MO, until she entered the Sibley Specialty Care in Sibley, IA and then in April she moved to Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids, where she remained until this past Wednesday, April 23, 2025, when she died at the age of 94.

Ruth loved to cook and prepare meals for family and church family. She was a fierce prayer warrior and lived her life anchored in faith. She loved her family with her whole being. Ruth’s family will remember her as a strong woman of faith who devoted her life to serving the Lord and supporting her husband and family.

She is survived by her three children, Shari (Keith) Kooiker of Rock Rapids, IA, Daniel Grueneich and Rodney Grueneich, both of Branson, MO; grandchildren Kara (Doug) Rigsby and their children, Evan, Katelynn and Allyson, of Gillette, WY; Kendra (Ross) Leonhardt and their children, Nolan and Eagan, of Sioux Falls, SD; and Kayla (Ryan) Peters of Harrisburg, SD and their children, Dayton (Gita) Peters and Haylie (Chayden) Carpenter; two great-great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gustav and Wilhelmina Strauss; brother, Ervin Strauss; and her husband, Reuben Grueneich.