Ruth Allen

1932 - 2025

Ruth Allen
Born: November 11, 1932 in Chambersburg, PA
Died: October 28, 2025 in Owatonna, MN
OWATONNA, MN - Ruth Allen, 92, formerly of Rock Falls, IL, was welcomed into heaven October 28, 2025. She passed away peacefully at Timberdale Trace Memory Care in Owatonna.
She was born in Chambersburg, PA, on November 11, 1932, to Eldon and Helen (Tarner) Beattie. Her family moved to Illinois when Ruth was 4 years old. She attended several schools in the Sterling/Rock Falls area and graduated from Rock Falls High School in 1950. She worked at International Harvester in Rock Falls after high school and then decided to pursue a career in nursing. She attended Swedish American School of Nursing, graduating in 1956. She married Bill Allen (Allen's TV) in 1959. They later divorced.
Ruth loved being a mom to her daughters Kathy, Karen and Kayla. She worked part time nights as a nurse at CGH (Community General Hospital) in Sterling when her daughters were young. She later worked full time and retired from her nursing career as the Assistant Director of Nursing at CGH. She often said that she loved being a nurse. She had many fond memories of her coworkers.
Ruth also loved to travel. She visited much of the United States and several countries with friends and family over the years. In her latter years, she enjoyed playing dominoes with friends and going for scenic rides in the country. She loved to tease people and to be teased and could make you smile with her sense of humor.
The family appreciates the wonderful care she received at Timberdale Trace Memory Care and St. Croix Hospice in Owatonna.
Ruth is survived by her 3 daughters, Kathy (Marv) Van Ommeren, Owatonna, MN, Karen (Chris) Rogers, Crystal Lake, IL, and Kayla (Dave) Paetsch, West Dundee, IL; grandchildren, Michael and Matthew Van Ommeren, Hannah, CJ, and Halle Rogers, and Abby Paetsch; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings and their spouses, Virginia (Carl) Gustafson, Bob (Karla) Beattie, Sam (Bev) Beattie, Dick (Alberta) Beattie, and Bev (Andy) Anderson.
Visitation will be from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Bethel Reformed Church in Sterling. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM with Pastor Ken Zuithoff officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Sterling.
Online condolences may be sent to www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com