DAISY RUTH KELLY | ||
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| Daisy Ruth (Funderburk) Kelly, the daughter of Christopher Columbus and Emma Jane (Greenwell) Funderburk, was born September 20, 1898, in Allenville, Illinois. She died Wednesday, October 28, 2009, at Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center, Iowa, at the age of 111 years.
As a young child Ruth moved from Illinois, lived in several places in Iowa and for awhile in Oregon, before returning to the Midwest and settling in the Swea City/Bancroft area. On December 31, 1917, she was united in marriage to Marion Frank Kelly of Swea City. Marion and Ruth moved to Elmore, Minnesota, in March of 1932, where he worked for Otto Krupp and Otto Snyder at the Krupp Garage. In 1934, Marion opened his own business, Kelly's Ford Garage. Later in life, Marion was a Star Route mail carrier in Garner, Iowa. Marion died September 15, 1969. Ruth moved to Swea City after Marion's death. She has been a resident of Timely Mission Nursing Home since November. 7, 1989. She was always very proud of the fact that former Vice-President and Minnesota Sen. Walter "Fritz" Mondale was a personal friend who grew up in Elmore and attended high school with her son Gene. At the time of her death, she was the third oldest Iowa resident, according to records kept by the state department of elder affairs. Two women, age 112 and 114 topped the list. Left to cherish Ruth's memory are her grandchildren, Jon K. Echternacht of River Falls, Wisconsin, Jane K. Echternacht Hallas of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jean K. Echternacht Ness of Minneapolis, Mark S. Kelly of West Fargo, North Dakota, Janet C. Kelly Williams of Kasota, Minnesota, Jill A. Kelly Stenzl of Apple Valley, Minnesota and Victor E. Kelly of Dinwiddie, Virginia. Preceding Ruth in death were her husband and four children, Marion Frank Kelly Jr., Floreine (Flo) Mae Kelly, Maurice E. Kelly, and Lowell Eugene (Gene) Kelly. INTERMENT Harrison Township Cemetery Swea City | ||
