RIEKE, Ruth Mabel

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ July 21, 2006 Ruth M. Rieke Former Cottonwood resident Ruth Mable Rieke died July 18, 2006. Ruth was born Jan. 19, 1916, in Van Horne, Iowa, to Clay Webster Ganfield and Emma Mable See Ganfield. She lived most of her life in Blairstown, Iowa, graduating from Blairstown High School in 1933. She attended Coe College and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1940, majoring in Speech and English. After graduation, she worked in radio and then taught in several high schools in rural Iowa. She was married on July 29, 1943, in Vallejo, Calif., to Howard William Rieke, who was serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1945 they settled down to a life of farming in Blairstown, where Ruth was a homemaker and mother to three children. She briefly taught high school English in Blairstown and enjoyed directing high school plays such as "Our Town." She also later taught remedial reading for a short time in Norway, Iowa. Ruth was active in the Presbyterian Church in Blairstown, serving as organist for many years, as well as youth group leader and Sunday school teacher. She and Howard retired from farming and in 1978 moved to Arizona, where they started their antique business, first in Prescott, then in Sedona and finally opening their store "Closet Antiques" in Cottonwood in 1982. They lived in Sedona from 1980 until moving to Cottonwood in 1991. After Howard died, Ruth moved to Newport, Ore., in 1999 to be near her daughter. Survivors include her daughter Nina Roll (John), of Newport, Ore.; son Roger Rieke, of Clinton, Iowa; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Blairstown, Iowa, and burial will be at Pleasant View Cemetery there. Phillips Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.