Carmi Ruth "Ruth" Tiedens

Carmi Ruth Tiedens, 102, of Norwalk, Iowa passed away on November 6, 2025.

Carmi was born on April 22, 1923, to William A. and Myrtle A. (Alvey) Custard in Valparaiso, IN. She and her family moved from Indiana to Colorado and then to Iowa finally settling on a farm near Buffalo Center, Iowa. She graduated from the Buffalo Center High School in 1940.

She met Nanno "Bill" Tiedens while in high school and they were married in 1942 in Princeton, MO. They returned to Mason City, IA where they owned a small store. Bill joined the Army during World War 2 and Ruth, as she liked to be called, followed him as he went from camp to camp, Florida to California. While based in California, she worked as a waitress and as a riveter on airplanes. One story she liked to tell about being a riveter was that one day she was so tired that she started to fall asleep and the riveting tool she was using caught her blouse and twisted it before she could get it stopped.

After Bill was released from the Army, they returned to Iowa and made their home in Des Moines. Ruth worked for Kelly Girl while her children were in elementary school. She then worked for Selective Service for several years until the office was closed. Her next position was a typist for the Iowa Crop and Livestock office and retired from that office. After retiring, she and Bill traveled across country and camped and fished at various lakes in Iowa.

She is survived by her daughter, Melanie Bower (Duane), grandchildren Kathy Bassman, Dan Bower, Michael Tiedens (Stephenie) and Matthew Tiedens (Carroll), 11 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, one sister-Mildred Mattheis, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

She is predeceased by her parents William A. and Myrtle A. (Alvey) Custard; her loving husband Bill in 2004; her son Mark In 2021; her brothers Keith and Kenneth; her sisters Lael Pierson and Arlene Coleman; and grandson-in-law Jerome Bassman.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 10 from 5 to 7 pm at the Sunset Memorial Chapel, with a celebration of life to be held on Tuesday the 11 at 10:30 am, also at the Sunset Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Gardens cemetery.