Ruth N. Upton

MASON CITY ? Ruth N. Upton, 89, of Mason City died Sunday (March 5, 2006) at the Good Shepherd Health Center where she was a resident since March, 2003. A service to celebrate her life will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday (March 11, 2006) at the First Baptist Church, 125 E. State St. with the Rev. Ron Stein officiating. Inurnment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to KCMR, First Baptist Church, Hospice of North Iowa, or the Mason City Public Library. Enid Ruth (Nordberg) Upton was born on February 17, 2006 in Virginia, Minnesota the daughter of Carl ?Oscar? and Ann (Anderson) Nordberg. She graduated from Iron Mountain High School. She then graduated from the Library Science program from the University of Minnesota, where she met her future husband, Ervin Charles Upton. They were united in marriage in Boston, Massachusetts on July 14, 1941. The family lived in Washington D.C., Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Cresco, Iowa before moving Mason City in 1951. She was a Librarian at the Mason City Public Library until her retirement in 1983. She continued to volunteer at the library until her health declined in 2002. She continued to feel part of the staff, even when she was no longer able to volunteer. She was an announcer at KCMR radio station, where she was known as ?Ruthie? and had her own on-air time slot. She loved being a part of the KCMR ?Family.? She transcribed books on tape for the Iowa Commission for the Blind and was recognized by Governor Terry Branstad for her contributions. She had a long history of volunteerism, including Good Shepherd Health Center and the First Baptist Church. She was a published poet, with many awards and recognition for her works. She enjoyed most writing for friends, who requested poems for special occasions or prefaces to cookbooks, etc. She was a member of the First Baptist Church. She is survived by her daughters, Rosann Sherrill and husband Marv of Madison, Wisconsin, Lauire Edens and husband Bill of Marshalltown, Iowa; grandchildren, Todd Chambers and wife Holly, Aaron Chambers and wife Mary Kay, Jamie Chambers and wife Sonya, Greg Sherrill, Marcy Sherrill-Mitola and husband John, David King and wife Tammy; seven great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ervin in 1983; son, Daniel in Vietnam in 1970; sister, Gene Cundy and brother, Alden, in infancy. Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements (641)-423-0924.

Visitation:
12:00 PM to 12:00 PM at on March 5, 2006 (map/driving directions) 12:00 PM to 12:00 PM at on March 5, 2006 (map/driving directions)

Service:
11:00 AM at 125 East State St. on March 11, 2006 (map/driving directions)