Ruth LEATHEROCK

14 JUN 1919 - 4 SEP 2005

• BIRTH: 14 JUN 1919, Sleepy Eye, Brown, Minnesota
• DEATH: 4 SEP 2005, South Bend, St Joseph, IN

• MARRIAGE: 20 DEC 1969, St Joseph County, IN

INDEX

[N28484] Ruth A. Dzierla
June 14, 1919 - September 4, 2005

Ruth A. Dzierla, 86, of South Bend, Indiana passed away on September 4, 2005 in her residence. Mrs. Dzierla was born on June 14, 1919 in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota to the late, Lloyd and Mabel (Reitz) Leatherock. In 1969 she married John Dzierla, who survives. Two sons also survive her, Forest (Frosty) McKown of Woodside, California; Barry McKown of South Bend; a daughter, Cathey Jo Caruso of Boulder City, Nevada; a stepson, Joseph (Lynne) Dzierla of South Bend; a twin sister, Rachel (Robert) Gutru of Palm Springs, California; and four grandchildren, Amber and Cole McKown, Mallory and Shelby Dzierla. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her older sister, Mariesther Brewer and a stepson, Jan Dzierla. At the age of 15, Ruth sang regularly for NBC-KANS radio station in Wichita, Kansas. She attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma and later pursued a career in modeling. In 1950, Ruth moved to the South Bend area and worked for Massachusetts Mutual Insurance agency. Ruth was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she and her loving husband, Johnny, of 35 years enjoyed traveling, fishing, dancing and spending time with family and friends. Being a twin was considered a blessing to Ruth; though they lived miles apart, she and Rachel made it a point to spend every birthday together. Ruth spent countless hours procuring her beautiful flower gardens and at the age of 86 she was still the queen of fashion. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, September 8, 2005, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 until 8 p.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN, 46637 or to Saint Joseph High School, 1441 N. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN, 46617