Ruby Ann Nelson

Ruby Ann Nelson, 91, went on to be with the Lord Sept. 20, 2022. She was surrounded by her devoted family when she passed peacefully at her Hesperia, California home after a brief illness. Desert View Hospice, Victorville, was a loving support for both Ruby and her family.

Ruby was born June 10, 1931, in Pipestone, Minnesota, not far from her grandparents' farm that she fondly remembered. She was the third of eight children and was the only daughter to Ejner Anton (Carl) and Anna Lucille (nee Haubrich) Jensen. One of her favorite stories to share about her early years was how she would ride her pig to the outhouse at night when it was cold. Then one day, no more pig but, delicious pork chops. Growing up in a large family during the Great Depression had significant challenges. She recalls that her parents worked very hard to take care of their large family. Often meals would consist of her mom's tasty home-grown tomatoes, and a bit of sugar on bread. Her mom was a schoolteacher when she met her dad. Her dad, an immigrant from Denmark at five years old, only had a fourth-grade education but, that never held him back. He was a farm laborer from the age of nine due to his father's untimely death. He worked hard to provide for his family and instilled a strong work ethic in his children who would later work as cooks, dishwashers, and waiters at their family restaurant.

When Ruby was eleven, the family moved from Pipestone to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She said this was her favorite place to live because of Cathedral High School and the beautiful parks. Sadly, they left Sioux Falls to open a new cafe in Estherville, Iowa in 1949, where Ruby graduated from Estherville High School in June 1950. After a short time in business school, her teacher recommended her for work at a local bank. She was perfectly suited to banking where she had a career of over thirty years. As a young mother and a career woman, she would quit her bank job every summer to have fun with her kids. Every fall, they hired her back. We recall our many family adventures to Huntington and Newport Beach, camping in Idyllwild along Strawberry Creek, dune buggy and motorcycle riding in the desert, and many trips to Omaha to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Even with her many gaps in working, she moved up from a front-line teller to operations manager, retiring in 1988 from First Interstate Bank, Anaheim, California.

As it turns out Estherville was a good move because that's where she met the love of her life. Lyle, her husband of 55 years, swept her off her feet when he ordered a 5-cent cup of coffee and left her a 25-cent tip where she waitressed at her parent's Palace Cafe. After two weeks of courting, and fun at the roller rink, they married on December 26, 1951. Just a few days later, they were off to California for work, and would remain there for the rest of their lives. They bought their first home in Anaheim in 1954 in a new neighborhood surrounded by orange groves and eucalyptus trees for a mere $7,000 with the help of VA benefits. One year later they had a famous neighbor when Disneyland opened in 1955.

Retirement brought them to the high desert town of Hesperia with three other couples that would remain life-long friends. Ruby was the last remaining of the group. Her husband, Lyle, passed in 2006 but, Ruby was able to remain in her home that held cherished memories of Lyle and their good friends. Retirement was truly golden for them as they traveled with their RV to New England during fall for the first time and had fun exploring Colonial Williamsburg and the Amish country. While at home they hosted monthly card/craft parties with their friends. Lyle was a gifted woodworker and cut out designs that the ladies painted with whimsical flowers. Later they would spend happy times scrapbooking their treasured pictures of good times with friends and family.

Ruby was an avid quilter and seamstress. She made everything from wedding dresses to quilts. Her family's inheritance will be figuring out what to do with her 12-foot long arm quilter, eight sewing machines, two sergers, over 200 bolts of fabric, more than 50 pair of scissors, many quilting rulers, not to mention the floor to ceiling cabinets filled with scrapbook materials and electronic cutters. Fortunately, her granddaughters and great-granddaughters inherited her crafty genes and will make good use of the supplies. Thanks, mom!

Ruby was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. Family meant everything to her, and she was careful to lead by example. She taught us well. Her daughter Bobbi's family moved from Riverside to Hesperia a few years after Lyle passed and were blessed to live so close to a mom who was gentle and wise. She enjoyed teaching her great-granddaughter's the joy of sewing and bought each of them their first sewing machine for Christmas one year. The legacy continues.

Ruby and Lyle were blessed to make High Desert Church their home where they spent many years in fellowship attending the Friendship Class. Beloved Pastor Dan Barbour, since passed, was the one who inspired them to get baptized as adults in 2004. Ruby and Lyle were life-long Christians and especially had a connection to High Desert Church. Ruby was a prayer warrior praying daily for the protection of all her friends, family, military, and our country's leaders. She was very proud of her husband, brothers, nieces, and nephews who served in the U.S. military.

Anyone who knew Ruby would agree she was fiercely independent right up to the end of her life. Ruby was still driving her trusty Toyota minivan up until the month before she passed. She had her final car ride to one of her favorite places, Raising Cane's restaurant, where all the staff greeted her as "Miss Ruby" when she ordered her daily kid's meal with a bottle of water. She made friends everywhere she went. She had a wicked sense of humor and was truly unforgettable.

Ruby is predeceased by her husband Lyle; her parents, Carl and Anna Jensen; 5 brothers and their spouses, Jack (Lois L.) Jensen, Don (Lois A.) Jensen, Ray (Beulah) Jensen, Joe (Marilyn) Jensen, Billie (infant) Jensen.

Ruby is survived by her two children, son Rick (Nancy) Nelson of Riverside, CA, daughter Bobbi (Kenny) Hillebert of Hesperia; 7 granddaughters, Lisa (Enrique) Garcia; Amy (Jeremy) Hite; Jessica (Brian Sims) Hillebert, Sara Terry, Nicole Renae (Jesse) Cummins; Rene (Michael) Kridler; Janell Timmins; 2 grandsons, Ray (Ashley) Nelson; Eric (Vanessa) Nelson; 6 great-grandsons; 4 great-granddaughters, 2 great-great grandsons; 2 brothers and their spouses, Roger (Diane) Jensen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Bob (Janit) Jensen of Estherville, Iowa.

Family and friends are invited to her Celebration of Life on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, 11:00 am at High Desert Church (HDC), in the original chapel, 14545 Hook Blvd., Victorville, CA 92394. Private burial arrangements by Hall Memorial Chapel Mortuary, Victorville at Riverside National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Ruby's charities, The ALS Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.