Ruth Bowman

Ruth (Burggraaff) Bowman was born April 2, 1951, in Hull, Iowa to Richard Burggraaff and Antonia (Vander Schaaf) Burggraaff. Ruth was baptized in the First Reformed Church. She graduated from Boyden-Hull High School and later Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Ruth was a lifelong generous and caring person. Her life’s purpose was always to help others, however she could. After college, she worked as an orphanage house parent at the Juliette Fowler Children’s Home in Dallas, Texas, and then as a top manager for the Southland Corporation in University Park, Texas. She eventually moved to Pipestone, Minnesota, and married Roy Bowman. They raised their children, Daniel and Barbara, and farmed near Pipestone for 31 years. During that time, Ruth also worked as a Para-Educator at the Pipestone Alternative School. She loved her students and working in that position. Ruth was a volunteer at the Teen Center in Pipestone and served as an advocate for domestic abuse victims in the court system. Ruth was a natural caregiver, also spending years caring for ill family members.

Ruth and Roy eventually moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota, where she was employed as a Special Ed Para at the New Century Academy. She peacefully passed away on April 29, 2025 at the Oaks & Pines Assisted Living facility in Hutchinson.

Ruth deeply loved her children and was very proud of them as adults. She also enjoyed gardening and tended a large organic garden. She was an excellent seamstress and talented painter.

She is lovingly remembered by her son, Daniel Bowman (Julia Fiene Bowman) and daughter, Barbara Bowman; grandchildren, Malina Royce, Chase Bowman, Piper Bowman, and Rylee Bowman; and her nephew, Marc Demmer, whom she loved as her own child. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Richard Burggraaff, Jr. and Calvin Burggraaff; sister, Nelva Demmer; an infant brother; her parents, Richard and Antonia Burggraaff; nieces, Pam Demmer and Jodi Demmer; and nephew, Brandon Demmer.

Ruth was an incredible mother and friend and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Please send cards to:

The Bowman Family

1815 S. Daylight Dr.

Sioux Falls, SD 57110