Ruth E. Averill

Hastings resident, Ruth E. Averill, 89, died Monday, April 27, 2009 at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital, Hastings, NE. Service will be Friday, May 1, 2009 at 2 PM at the First United Methodist Church, Hastings, NE with the Rev. Alan W. Davis and Rev. Dr. Sam Rathod officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be Thursday, April 30, 2009 from 9 AM to 5 PM at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home, Hastings, NE and one hour before service time at the church. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Ruth was born May 1, 1919, to William H. and Loretta E. (Smith) Palmer in Minden, NE. She attended District 26, in Adams County and Pauline High School from 1924 thru 1935. Moving to Hastings in May of 1935, she graduated from the Hastings High School in 1936. She was employed by Mary Lanning Hospital and the S.S. Kresge dime store in Hastings, NE. She moved to Denver, CO in 1944 and worked at the Denver Dry Goods for 2 years. She married William D. Rhodes in 1946 in Sacramento, CA, they moved back to Hastings later that year. They lived in Giltner, NE then Grand Island, NE. William passed away in 1958, in Grand Island, NE. Ruth moved to Hastings in October of 1958 with 4 children. She married Rex. E. Averill in 1960, he passed away on November 9, 1995. Ruth was a homemaker. She was a 60 year member of the First United Methodist Church in Hastings, NE, and a member of the Church Circle; she was also a life time member of the VFW Auxiliary in Hastings. Ruth is survived by 2 daughters, Linda Osten and Dorothy Elliott both of Lincoln, NE. 2 sons, Gary Rhodes of Colorado Springs, CO and Don Rhodes of Central City, NE. 2 step-daughters, Kay Enderle of Lincoln, NE and Patricia Butterfield of St. Charles, MO. 9 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, 2 great granddaughters, 7 great grandsons and 9 step-great grandchildren, 2 nieces and 8 nephews, plus several great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands William and Rex, 2 brothers and sister-in-laws, Burwyn H. Palmer and wife Dorothy, and Bill G. Palmer and wife Colleen. A memorial will be established.