Ruth J. Way

Funeral services for Ruth J. Way, 83, of Rochester, MN will be at 11:00am on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Rochester. Open casket visitation will begin at 9:30am. Closed casket visitation will begin at 10:00am at the church. Burial will be at the Oronoco Cemetery following a luncheon. Ruth JoLoyce Hayward was born on January 26, 1934 in Dante, SD to Howard and Johanna (Schroder) Hayward. She died on February 5, 2017 at the Rochester Rehabilitation and Living Center. Ruth graduated from High School in Avon, SD. She received her teaching certificate and taught school before going to nursing school. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Dakota Wesleyan College. Ruth worked as a missionary running a girls school for three years in Sierra Leone, West Africa. She was a nurse in South Dakota and ran the School of Nursing at Dakota Wesleyan. She was the Director of Nursing Service in Brookings, South Dakota. In 1973, the family moved to Rochester and she worked at St. Marys Hospital. She worked as Assistant Director of Nursing Service and as a supervisor. She retired from St. Marys in 1994. She was a long-time member of Calvary Evangelical Free Church. She enjoyed genealogy and social activities at the Homestead. She volunteered at In His Name Food Distribution and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. Survivors include her three children, Ronda (Gary) Lovelace of Rochester, MN, Ronald (Lara) Way of Minnetrista, MN and Ricky (Annlia) Way of Charlotte, NC; nine grandchildren, Lukas and Rachel Lovelace, William, Emily, and Daniel Way, Adriella, Thomas, Mathias, and Kaelyn Way; and her siblings, Russell Hayward of Bellevue, NE, Gloria Eppling of Indianapolis, IN, Verda (Lawrence) Johnson of Indianapolis, IN, sister-in-law, Sharon Hayward of Sawyer, MI, and brother-in-law, Howard Way of Alamo, CA. She was also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Wallace and Jerald. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, or Calvary Evangelical Free Church. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester MN 55901 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com