Ruth Anne Houghtaling

Ruth Anne (Snedden) Houghtaling went home to be with her Lord on May 12, 2013. Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, with visitation on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, from 5:00-7:30 p.m., and a memorial service on Thursday, May 16, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. A private family burial will be at Lincoln Cemetery near Granger, Iowa.

Ruth was born September 4, 1929, near Granger Iowa, to William and Mary Ann (Hayward) Snedden. She graduated from Granger High School in 1946, and also attended Northwest Missouri State College and Drake University. After high school graduation, she began working at Banker’s Life Company in Des Moines until 1952. She also worked at Lally’s Inc. from 1953 until 1956. Ruth returned to Banker’s Life in 1972, and worked there in various positions until her retirement as Assistant Manager of Group Contracts and Compliance in 1991. After her retirement, she worked part-time in the same department at Principal Financial Group for several years.

On August 8, 1956, Ruth married Edgar Houghtaling after a whirlwind two-week courtship. They were married for 52 years. They lived in south Des Moines, the Reserve on Walnut Creek in Urbandale, and the Cedars in Madrid. Ruth spent her last 18 months living at Westhaven Community in Boone.

Ruth was a member of Cornerstone Community Church, and was actively involved in the Women’s Missionary Outreach group for several years. When Ruth and Ed moved to the Reserve, she enjoyed being a part of the Arts and Crafts committee as well as the Library committee. She was an active genealogist and loved traveling in pursuit of family roots. She also enjoyed vacationing, reading, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ruth is survived by her children Dennis of Des Moines, Judi (Don) Kinder of Boone, Peggy (John) Denham of St. Paul MN, and Shirley of West Des Moines; step-son Richard (Diane) Verbiski of Florida; brother Dick (Ruth) Snedden of Mason City; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents, brothers Harold and Bill, and sisters Alice Wright, Helen Broadie, Dorothy D’Autremont, Louisa Martin, and Margaret McDevitt.

Memorial contributions may be made to HCI Care Services of Iowa and the Madrid Home ACTS Fund.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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