Ruth Evelyn (Westpfahl) Amundson of Clermont, Iowa, passed away on August 14, 2024, at the age of 91. She was born in Sumner, Iowa on July 14, 1933, to Carl and Grace (Helmer) Westpfahl. She was a lifetime member of West Clermont Lutheran Church where she was baptized, confirmed and married. Ruth graduated from Clermont High School on May 17, 1951.
She married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth Amundson, on August 28, 1954. To their marriage, they were blessed with seven children, twenty grandchildren, and twenty-eight great-grandchildren.
Ruth was a farm wife/homemaker on a dairy farm outside of Clermont until retiring in 1999. After retirement, Kenny and Ruth moved to Clermont where she was able to spend more time with family and friends. She loved baking angel food cakes, coffee cake and cookies to send home with family and friends when they would stop to visit. However, her biggest love was her family. She loved and was so proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved holding and rocking the new babies in the family.
“Being a Grandma is an honor. Being a Great-Grandma is priceless. The only time I loved more than being a mom and grandma is being a great grandma. Being a great-grandma doesn’t make me old, it makes me blessed. How special you are and how proud I am of you.”
Ruth was a founding member of the Tre Ore Club, member of the Sarah Circle at West Clermont Lutheran Church, and treasurer of the American Legion Auxiliary. She participated in Iowa Girls’ State in 1950.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Kenny of 62 years; her son, Kevin; her parents Carl and Grace Westpfahl, siblings- Wallace, ‘Teen’ Hauser; Lorraine (Russ) Miller; Marge (Brad) Bradley; Kenneth Westpfahl; Elbert (Joyce) Westpfahl; sister-in-law Barb Westpfahl and Louise in infancy.
Ruth is survived by her loving children, Kurtis (Deon) Amundson, Rochelle (Lonnie) Holthaus, Roxanne (Lee) Gross, Leslie (Luann) Amundson, Colleen (Mark) Dinan, and Carolyn (Marty) Nuss. Twenty grandchildren include: Laura Tudahl, Robert (Rose) Amundson, Paul (Angela) Amundson; Mitchell (Rachel) Amundson, Mason (Laura) Amundson; Jeremy Holthaus, Joshua (Courtney) Holthaus, Jonathan (Gena) Holthaus; Stephanie (the late Travis) Taggart, Anthony Gross and fiancé, Chelse, Nicholas (Amanda) Gross; Tasha (Jeremy) Massman, Tyler (Christy) Amundson, Brittany (Chris) Brown; Joseph (Amanda) Dinan, Kaitlin (Cam) McDowell; Allison Nuss, Morgan Nuss, Lauren Nuss, and Kirsten Nuss. Twenty-nine great-grandchildren include: Megan and Jordan Tudahl; Miles and Asher Amundson; Ray, Cecilia, and Blaire Amundson; Kendall and Lucas Amundson; Wyatt, Lane, and Remington Amundson; Brantley and Vivian Holthaus; Aspen and Etta Holthaus; Arden and Ina Taggart; Henry Gross; Kylah, Brecken, and Teagan Massman; Camden, Brooks, and Jace Amundson; Weston, Adalynn, and Kinsley Brown; and Barrett Dinan. Siblings, Betty (Dale) Freeman and Richard Westpfahl; sister-in-law, Ruth Westpfahl; and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Sunday, August 18, 2024 at West Clermont Lutheran Church, 221 Larrabee St., Clermont, IA 52135 from 3-6 pm as well as one hour prior to the service.
A funeral service will be held 11:00 am Monday, August 19, 2024 at West Clermont Lutheran Church, Clermont with Pastor Mike Erickson officiating.
Interment will follow the service at God’s Acres Cemetery, Clermont, Iowa, next to her beloved husband Edwin Kenneth Amundson.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Clermont, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements.