Ruth M. Traphagen

Aberdeen: Funeral service for Ruth M. Traphagen, 59, of Aberdeen will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 19, 2010, at Zion Lutheran Church, Aberdeen. Pastor Tanya Rist officiating. Burial: 2 p.m. Saturday at Osceola Cemetery near Marvin, S.D. Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, June 18, 2010, at the mortuary and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church. Friends may sign her online guest book at schriversmemorial.com.

Ruth passed away Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital, Aberdeen.

Ruth M. Johnson was born Sept. 25, 1950, to Edward and Ella (Nelson) Johnson in Clear Lake, S.D.. She was raised on a farm near Marvin, attended rural schools and graduated from Wilmot High School. Ruth moved to Aberdeen and attended Aberdeen School of Commerce.

Ruth married Don Craft and together had two daughters, Melissa and Kelly. Ruth started working for Hub City, Inc. in April 1973. Ruth was a production control planner and was employed with the company more than thirty years.

Ruth married Joel R. Traphagen in April 2001 at Rapid City. They continued to make Aberdeen their home and Ruth was still employed with Hub City at the time of her death.

Ruth enjoyed the outdoors, working in her flower gardens. She enjoyed shopping and going to craft shows and she especially enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Surviving Ruth are her two daughters, Melissa (Wade) Winkelman, of Aberdeen, and Kelly Craft of Aberdeen; five stepchildren: Brenda (Ken) Fouts, of Aberdeen, Kimberly (Jared) Reiter, of Brandon, S.D., Karen (Tony) Moselle, of Coon Rapids, Minn., Kathy Traphagen, of Aberdeen, and Brett (Tonya) Traphagen, of Sioux Falls; four sisters: Louise (Roger) Green, of Wilmot, S.D., Susan (Bob) Capp, of Milbank, S.D., Mary (Chuck) Peters, of Watertown, S.D., and Rosalie (Carl) Kantola, of Watertown, S.D.; one brother, Arlo Johnson, of Wilmot, S.D.; seven stepgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her second husband, Joel, in January 2010; one brother, George Johnson; one brother-in-law, Merle Osterloh; and three nieces.

This obituary was originally published in the Aberdeen American News.