Ruth Elaine Ratekin

Cedar Falls -- Ruth Elaine Ratekin, 90, of Cedar Falls died Saturday, December 30, 2017 at Western Home Communities Nation Cottage in Cedar Falls. Ruth was born March 30, 1927, in Jefferson County, Iowa, daughter of Fred and Minnie Carlson O’Dean. She graduated from Fairfield, Iowa High School, received a B.A degree cum laude from Parsons College in 1948, and an M.A. in Business Education from the University of Northern Iowa in 1975. Ruth married Ned Ratekin on June 4, 1950 at the First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, Iowa. Ruth taught Business and Office Education courses in Wayland, Oelwein, Dubuque, and Cedar Falls high schools. She served as a Board member and Officer for the Iowa, North Central, and National Business Education Associations. Ruth received the Outstanding Iowa Business Educator award from the Iowa Business Education Association in 1987, and she was awarded the Lloyd C. Douglas Business Educator Alumni Award from the University of Northern Iowa in 1989. Ruth was a member of the First Presbyterian church in Cedar Falls, and served as a Ruling Elder in congregations in Fairfield, Dubuque, Mt. Pleasant, and Cedar Falls. Ruth was a founding member and president of Chapter MV of PEO, a member of Chapter OV, and served as President of the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra Board. Following retirement Ruth with her husband established the Carlson House Bed and Breakfast in Swedesburg, Iowa which they operated for 10 years Survived by: Ruth is survived by her husband, three sons Kent (Tricia) of Langley, WA, Jack (Lori) of West Des Moines, IA, and Joel (Angie) of Nashville TN; five grandchildren, Shonee Hightower (Mike) of Bothell, WA, Lindsay Graham (Matthew) of Noblesville, IN, Elizabeth Reeves (Weston) of Chesterfield, VA, Stephanie Ratekin of Richmond, VA, and Hannah Ratekin of Lakewood, CO; seven great grandchildren, Evelyn and Emily Hightower, Benjamin, Joel, and Annika Graham, and Tyler and Natalie Reeves; a sister Margaret Swenson of Mt. Pleasant, IA; and several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by: her parents and a sister, Lucille Aronson. Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 5, at First Presbyterian Church, Cedar Falls, with burial at New Sweden Lutheran Cemetery, Jefferson County, IA. Visitation from 9 a.m. until service time at the church. Richardson Funeral Service is assisting the family. Memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls or Western Home Communities Foundation. Ruth was a pioneer in introducing instruction in the use of the computer for office education students.

Ruth Elaine Ratekin

March 30, 1927 - December 30, 2017