Ruby I McDonnel

Ruby I. McDonnel age 90 of Balaton, MN died Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at the Colonial Manor in Balaton, MN. Services are at 11:00 AM Saturday, March 8, 2008 at the United Methodist Church in Balaton. Visitation will be from 9-11:00 AM prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Interment will be at the Lakeside Cemetery in Balaton. Ruby Irma McDonnel was born November 23, 1917 to George and Myrttle (Peterman) Yearous in Miller, SD, Hand County. She was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith and moved, as a young girl, with her family to the Lake Wilson, MN area. Ruby attended Lake Wilson Public Schools and graduated from Lake Wilson High School in 1935. As a young woman she worked with several area farm families, cooking and cleaning, especially during harvest time. On January 4, 1939 Ruby married LeRoy E. McDonnel in Iona, MN and they made their home in Sioux Falls, SD for a short time. In 1946 they moved to a farm near Balaton, MN and then into Balaton, in 1975. Ruby was a housewife and mother and worked for a few years at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton. She remained in her home until 2006 when she moved into the Lakeview Estates in Balaton. Ruby was a member of the Balaton United Methodist Church where she was very active over the years in her circle, Ladies Aid and Thimble Club. She enjoyed sewing, crossword puzzles, Minnesota Twins baseball and both vegetable and flower gardening. In August of 2007 Ruby became a resident of the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton where she died Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at the age of 90. Ruby is survived by one son, Duane (Nancy) McDonnel of Saratoga CA; one daughter Glenda (Jon) Roe of Burnsville, MN; four grandchildren, Lisa and Todd McDonnel and Mark and Tim Roe; two great granddaughters, Hannah McDonnel and Emi Roe; one sister, Beaula Wood of Russell, MN; one brother-in-law, Everett Gillis of Hot Springs, SD; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Her husband LeRoy, parents, one brother, Albion (Beulah) Yearous, and three sisters, Crystal (George) Bingham, Mabel Gillis and Elsie (Clifford) Thompson preceded her in death.