Ruth "'Tootie'" L. Dudley

Ruth L. Tootie Dudley, 84, of Omaha, formerly of Grand Island died Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the Life Care Center of Elkhorn in Elkhorn.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. Thursday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 P.M. Wednesday at Apfel Funeral Home.

Ruth LaVon Dudley was born November 16, 1930, at Belgrade, NE to Glenn and Maggie (McCurdy) Goodman. She grew up in the Belgrade area and attended school there. In her teenage years, her family moved to Grand Island where she completed her education.

Ruth married George F. Dudley on July 20, 1952, at Grand Island. The couple made their home in Grand Island.

Tootie as she was known to friends and family raised two families. Aside from raising her own children, she cared for and helped raise the children of John and Karen Higgins.

She loved sewing, gardening and caring for her yard. She moved to Omaha in 2006 to be nearer her daughter and grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughter, Linda Dettloff of Omaha; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Lowell Goodman and Roger and Judy Goodman all of Grand Island; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George; son Douglas; and her sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Frank Rogers; and sister-in-law Mary Lou Goodman.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com