RUTH Irene George (born Björklund)

Ruth Irene George of Cherokee,age 96, passed away Monday, June 11, 2012, at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center . Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 14, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee. Father Armand Bertrand will officiate. Burial will take place at Maryhill Visitation Cemetery. Visitation began at noon today, with the family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight at Greenwood Funeral Home in Cherokee. There will be a 3 p.m. rosary today, conducted by the Catholic Daughters and a 7 p.m. prayer service tonight at the funeral home.

Ruth was born Dec. 30, 1915, in Cherokee, the daughter of Ernest and Nanny (Bengtson) Bjorklund. She attended one year of high school in Aurelia, then left to be a nanny in Chicago at the age of 15. It was there she became a diehard Chicago Cubs fan and she maintained that love until the very end.

On Feb. 17, 1938, she married Wilbert George at Maryhill Church where she was a member for many years after moving to Cherokee following Wilbert's death in 1987.

She was a member of WAC (Women's Afternoon Club), Ladies Union, and Catholic Daughters. She was an active bowler for many years and enjoyed bus trips and gambling excursions. She was a dedicated walker, which she did until a fall the day before her 96th birthday. Her favorite travel experience was a trip in 1982 to Sweden to visit relatives. She enjoyed following the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, infant sister, Ruby, her brother, Kenneth Bjorklund, her sister, Phyllis (Francis) Smith, and daughter, Joan Benson.

She will be missed by her daughters, Mary Kay France of Urbandale and Shirley George of Cherokee; grandsons, Brad (Renae), Dan, Greg (Darcy), Mark (Shelley), Mike and Todd (Mel) Benson; Stephen (Kathy) France, granddaughter, Maribeth France-Rieks (Matt), and many great-grandchildren; her sister, Edna Pearson, of Rockford, Ill.; brother-in-law Francis Smith; sisters-in-law Marilyn Storbeck and Joan Cronin in addition to many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to a charity of your choice in her name or to the Cherokee Community Foundation and indicate Cherokee Yacht Club.