Ruth Hawkins

Ruth Hawkins, formerly of Council Bluffs, passed away on March 11, 2017, at Longview Home in Missouri Valley, Iowa.

Ruth graduated from Missouri Valley High School in 1941 and after graduation, taught country school in the Logan area, later working at a car dealership in Council Bluffs and then began working for Mutual of Omaha, re- tiring from there in 1984 after 34 years.

She married Don Hawkins in 1961 and he preceded her in death in 2002.

After retiring, Ruth worked as a volunteer at the Eagles Lodge Aerie #38 in Omaha serving as President of the Ladies Auxiliary for two years, was inducted into the Hall of Fame and was a member of the Ritual Team. She enjoyed attending Eagles’ State Conventions and made countless friends during her years of working and participating in lodge events.

Ruth and Don enjoyed many years of boating, camping and traveling. Ruth loved college football, horseracing and casino trips to Las Vegas. She and Don especially loved spending time with family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Nellie (Haines) Axtell; brothers, James (wife, Gladys) and Earle; sisters, Dorcas, Vera, Lucille, Agnes (husband, Wendell Cross) and Emma (husband, Elmer O’Neill); brother-in-law and sister-in- law, Howard and Ruth Hawkins; nephews, Kenny Hawkins and Bobby Axtell; and niece, Barbara (Axtell) Wilcoxen.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Mae Axtell, of Woodward, Iowa; nieces, Marlene Lundergard (Clifford), of Logan; Kathy Zeiler (Bev), of Kansas City; Janelle Folkerts (Mike), of Las Vegas, Nev., Linda Tingwald (Keith), of Wood- ward, and Barbara Walker (Kenneth); nephew, Larry O’Neill (Donna), of Logan; great nieces, great nephews and friends.

Visitation will begin Wednesday, 1 to 2 p.m., with a Celebration of Life following at 2 p.m., at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Memorial Park cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Eagles Lodge Aerie #38 in Omaha, 201 South 24th St., Omaha, Neb., 68102 or to the family.