RAPID CITY | Ruth Elizabeth Hadcock, 91, died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, at Clarkson Healthcare.

She was born Nov. 12, 1926, in New Underwood to John Henry and Ida Louise (Mielke) Wolken. She grew up on the Wolken Ranch, 17 miles northeast of Rapid City.

Ruth graduated from Rapid City High School in 1944 and then studied at St. John's McNamara School of Nursing, where she made lifelong friends and received her RN in 1947. She worked at St. John's McNamara Hospital for a short time, and didn't work professionally again until 1981, when she worked part-time as an RN at Clarkson Mt. View Guest Home for 12 years.

She was married to Francis S. Hadcock on August 5, 1948, a marriage which lasted 69 years. She died 19 days after her husband. They raised four children, Patty, Michael, Susan, and Scott. Family and friends were very important to Ruth and she was devoted to and supportive of her children and grandchildren all her life. She was a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, and 4-H leader. She was very proud to learn to play the organ later in life. Ruth was quietly spiritual and loved listening to Billy Graham.

Ruth excelled as a homemaker, a cook, a baker, and a seamstress. Her family always had delicious meals and good things to eat — like fried chicken, butter horn rolls and frosted cutout Christmas cookies. She loved flowers and plants, and her backyard gardens and flowers were a source of pride. Her love of flowers started with picking and pressing wildflowers as she grew up on the ranch. She also learned to love animals, especially her long-time horse Tony. For grades one through eight, Ruth, with her sister Betty Lou sitting behind her, would ride Tony three miles East every day to the Lone Tree Country School.

She is survived by her two daughters, Patty Johnson, Rapid City, and Susan Wheeldon, West Allis, WI; and two sons, Scott (Debbie) Hadcock and Michael Hadcock, Rapid City. She is also survived by six grandchildren, James (Jennifer) Johnson, Danville, CA, Amanda (Nate) Olson, Bend, OR, Joseph (Laurie) Wheeldon, Boyceville, WI, Sam Wheeldon, Fargo, ND, Ben (Shauna) Wheeldon, New Albany, IN, and Grace Ruth (Chris) Bielski, New Berlin, WI.

In addition, she is survived by 13 great-grandchildren: Caitlyn and Sophia Johnson of Danville, Kellen and Sloan Olson of Bend, Maci and Jack Wheeldon of Fargo, Brennan, Shiloh, Noelle, Peter and Lucy Wheeldon of Boyceville, and Capri and Samuel Bielski of New Berlin; her sister, Betty Lou Hye, Colorado Springs, CO; and several nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Francis; her parents; two brothers, Charles and Fred Wolken; one sister, Ferne Crouch; and one grandson, Joshua Johnson.

The family sends many thanks to the staff at Clarkson Healthcare and Westhills South Assisted Living for the thoughtful, kind, and superior care of our parents for the past seven years.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, at Osheim-Schmidt Funeral Home, with Father William Zandri officiating. Flowers are welcome in celebration of Ruth's life.

Inurnment will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.