Rapid City - Ruth Ann Scanlon died on December 27, 2016 in hospice care due to complications associated with cancer.

Ruth was born in Minneapolis, MN on October 20, 1939 to Leland E. Nolan and Mabel G. (Pederson) Nolan. She had three full siblings (Robert, Betty, and Helen) and one half-brother (John "Mike" Hedlund). She lost her father when she was two years old, and her mother when Ruth was 20. She moved to Denver, CO shortly after her mother's death to find work. There she met William P. (Bill) Scanlon, who worked in the same accounting office, and they were married on October 20, 1962.

Four children followed: Patricia (53), Kathleen (52), and twins Dennis and William (50). She loved each of her children and hoped, as all parents do, that they would find happiness and success in their lives.

She and Bill moved from Denver to Rapid City on June 8, 1972, and lived on Brookside Drive for 37+ years, before moving to her current home on Sunny Springs Drive. She loved the summer and early fall months, and took frequent trips into the Black Hills, particularly through Custer State Park, enjoying the fall colors, rolling hills, and the musical theatre at the Blue Bell Lodge. She enjoyed raising flowers and vegetables, and canned a delightful rhubarb jam.

Her true skill was quilting and all of her children have a cherished quilt or three. Each grandchild received a quilt at graduation. She would spend the fall and winter months patiently pinning squares and patterns together while the Vikings or the Broncos struggled on the television in the background. She enjoyed football, and was a proud football parent for both her sons during their junior high and high school years.

She kept several cats throughout the years, and two dogs. Cats were her favorite because they matched her personality, with their independence and stubborn streaks.

A long-term parishioner at South Canyon Lutheran Church, she served as Sunday school teacher and Religious Education Coordinator for several years. She worked with teachers to host vacation bible school for several summers.  Ruth was an employee of the Rapid City School District since the mid-1970s, starting as a substitute teacher, becoming a lunch-room supervisor at South Canyon Elementary in 1977, and terrorizing a generation of students thereafter. She also served in various administrative capacities at South Canyon and, in retirement, returned to substitute teaching until 2015.

Travel was a passion of hers, with annual trips to Minnesota in a car full of children to visit aunts, uncles and cousins. They visited about 20 states, with frequent trips to see grandchildren in Minnesota, Colorado, Wyoming and Illinois. She and Bill also traveled to England, Ireland, Burma and Australia throughout the years.

She is survived by her husband, Bill, her four children, nine grandchildren (Terry and Kelly Kline; Amanda, Kellan, and Ty Hawley; Paul Scanlon; and Zachary, Nathan, and Rebecca Scanlon), her half-brother Mike, and many nephews and nieces. Her hope is that they will find love and happiness in their lives.

The Scanlon family would ask you honor the memory of Ruth by finding the time to reach out to a loved one, and remind them they are loved, to act with kindness to your children and grandchildren, and to remember that nothing in life is guaranteed—enjoy your friends and family while you can.

Services will be Friday, December 30, 2016 at 2:00pm at South Canyon Lutheran Church, Rapid City, SD. In lieu of flowers, they family requests a donation to the charitable organization of your choice in Ruth's name. The Scanlon family wishes to thank the staff, nurses and doctors at Regional Health and Comfort Care program for their kindness and professionalism during these difficult days.