Cover photo for Ruth Roberts Heller's Obituary
Ruth Roberts Heller Profile Photo
1917 Ruth 2019

Ruth Roberts Heller

August 16, 1917 — December 12, 2019

Dunlap

Ruth Sabilla Rannells was born on August 16, 1917, to James Arthur "Art" and Leeta (Calhoon) Rannells, on the Rannells home farm outside Dunlap, Iowa. She attended country school and then graduated from Dunlap High School in 1935. Ruth attended Iowa State College for Teachers Training. She taught at a country school until getting married. On May 17, 1942, Ruth married 1st Lt. Arthur S. Roberts at the Rannells Homestead. She was proud to be an officer’s wife and went with Art when he helped oversee a POW camp in Algona and then when he oversaw  the building of a POW camp in New Ulm, Minnesota.  Later Art shipped out to the Philippines and Ruth returned to Dunlap. After his honorable discharge in 1946, they purchased the farm southeast of Dunlap where Ruth was still living. Art died on December 17, 1983. Ruth married Lawrence Heller on November 3, 1989. Lawrence died on March 22, 2000.

Ruth was a member of the Dunlap United Methodist Church. Ruth cherished her family and was a wonderful homemaker and mother. She was proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ruth was also very honored to be a farmer’s wife. She was proud to be an American and enjoyed traveling our great country and she always had a bag packed so she was ready to go. Ruth loved to go to Florida in the winters. She cherished walks on the beach and loved the ocean. She especially loved sunrises over the ocean and the beautiful sunsets at the farm. Ruth loved music and dancing. She also enjoyed horseback riding and going out to eat.

Ruth died on December 12, 2019, at CHI Health Missouri Valley Hospital at the age of 102 years, three months and 26 days.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Arthur S. Roberts and Lawrence Heller; siblings, Richard and Francis Rannells and Eula Jean Roberts; grandson, Quentin Heistand; granddaughter-in-law, Michelle Roberts; and grandson-in-law, Kevin Bryant. Ruth is survived by her six children, Rollie (Beth) Roberts of Dunlap, Iowa, Ruth (Bob) Metcalf of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Rita (Bryan) Francis of Mims, Florida, Marilyn Cook of Indialantic, Florida, Jim (Laila) Roberts of Omaha, Nebraska, and Carol (Tim) Mulligan of Indialantic, Florida; 18 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Margaret “Margo” Wetter of Des Moines, Iowa; sister-in-law, Polly Rannells of Ridgedale, Missouri; and many other relatives and friends.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Roberts Heller, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, December 16, 2019

4:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Fouts Funeral Home ~ Dunlap

, Dunlap, IA 51529

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Family will receive friends

Monday, December 16, 2019

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Fouts Funeral Home ~ Dunlap

, Dunlap, IA 51529

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Starts at 10:30 am (Central time)

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