Amy Ruth Stalter White

Amy Ruth Smith Stalter White was born on March 23, 1926 to Russell Wayne Smith and Edith Verle McKnight Smith in Clarke County, Iowa. She passed away from this life at Valley View Village on April 16, 2023 at the age of 97.

Amy Ruth grew up in Clarke County going to Rural School. After graduating from Osceola High School in 1943, she took Normal training and taught for 2 years in the Rural School in Fremont Township, Clark County, Iowa.

She was married to John Henry Stalter on March 4, 1944, and to this union three sons were born. They farmed in Clarke and Warren Counties. They eventually moved to Des Moines in 1953. She lived in the same house on NE 47th Street for over 65 years. She said she enjoyed not having to worry about downsizing or foreclosure.

Her first husband, John Henry, died in 1966 due to injuries received after being hit by a car. In 1970, she married her longtime friend, Elmer E. White. Elmer passed away in 2000.
She did various jobs after moving to Des Moines. After working at Younkers, she worked at Kmart for 20 years—both retail and in the office. After retirement, she worked as a custodian at Delaware Elementary School in the Southeast Polk School District.

Amy Ruth was a very active lady in her church and with seniors at the FourMile Community Center. She loved working with children and headed up Bible school classes. Her life involved any kind of craft. She made quilts and clothing. She could crochet “anything” and created many afghans. She was an avid gardener and rode her riding lawn mower until after she was 90 years old.

She loved to travel and had been to every state except Hawaii. She took a cruise through the Panama Canal and visited San Carlos Sonora Mexico. She went to Japan in 2011 at age 85 to visit granddaughter, Jane.

To cherish her memory, Amy Ruth leaves behind:Daughter-in-law Pamela Stalter Step Children: Penny Menard (Dan), Robert Folsom Grandchildren: John Warner Stalter (Amy), Sean Tyler Stalter (Nicole), Shane Stalter (Vannadeth), Tobias Stalter (Morgan), Jane Stalter Fugiwara (Motoaki), Margaret Stalter Weber (David) Step-Grandchildren:Jamie Sargent (Jodi), Joe Sargent (Jennifer), Tammy Sargent Westwood (Alan) 15 Great Grandchildren and 4 Step Great Grandchildren Amy Ruth was preceded in death by her arents; husbands John H. Stalter and Elmer White; sons John Lynden, Russell Kevin, and Kendall Ray Stalter; brothers Warren W. and Dwight V. Smith; sisters Vera Gray and Lois Stephenson; step-daughter Pat Folsom; a great grandson Tyler Stalter; and other dear relatives and friends.

We will all miss her!

Services will be held at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW, in Altoona on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with a funeral service at 10 a.m., Burial will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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