Ruth M. Collins

MASON CITY: Ruth Marie Collins, 79, of Mason City, died Friday, January 10, 2014 at the Good Shepherd Health Center. Funeral services will be held 10:30 am Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at the First Assembly of God Church, 1301 N. Carolina Avenue with Pastor George Ady officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Tuesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Memorials may be directed to the Ruth Collins Memorial Fund. Ruth was born December 29, 1934 in Walthill, Nebraska the daughter of George and Nellie (Rich) Hunter. She graduated from South Sioux City, Nebraska High School in 1953. Ruth married John Collins August 13, 1956 in South Sioux City. Ruth and John lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Minneapolis, Minnesota, back to Kalamazoo, then to Sioux City before moving to Mason City in 1975. They moved to Fort Dodge for a few years then returned to Mason City in 1998. Ruth worked off and on at Damon’s Department Store, Fashion Bug, Winchell’s Donuts, and baby sitting in her home. She was a faithful member of First Assembly of God Church and previously a member of the Open Bible Church in Clear Lake. She was an avid bible reader, attended bible studies and prayer groups and enjoyed Christian Television and Southern Gospel music. In addition, some of her other interests included playing games with her family, napping with the grandchildren, her collection of dolls, jewelry, flowers, and watching her kids and grandkids participate in sports. Ruth is survived by her husband, John of Mason City; 6 children, Larry (Pam) Collins of Indianola, Colleen (Brian) Schupanitz of Indianola, Pam Lawrence of Mason City, Steve (Suntorn) Collins of Phenix City, Alabama, Phil (Denell) Collins of Hobart, Indiana, and Jim (Jennifer) Collins of Mason City; grandchildren, Lynne (Andrew) Toivonen, Richard (Corinne) Collins, Sara , Benjamin, and Joshua Schupanitz, Danielle Lawrence and special friend Dale Lewis, Jonathon Lawrence and special friend Ashley O’Hern, Jean (Eric) Niles, Miranda Collins, Evan and Noah Collins; 10 great grandchildren; brother, James “Pete” (Carolyn) Hunter of Sioux City. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, George and Nellie Hunter; siblings, Daniel, Violet, and Margie Mae Hunter.