Ruth Vivian Nielson

Ruth Vivian Nielson, age 78, of Sioux Falls, died on September 3, 2011, at Sanford Health. Funeral services will begin at 9:30 A.M. Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at Benton Lutheran Church, rural Crooks. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Lutheran World Relief.

Ruth was born March 16, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois to Warren and Marie (Peterson) Hall. Her family moved to Hobart, Indiana when she was 15. She graduated from Hobart High School and continued her education at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois where she received her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing. On June 15, 1957, she married George Nielson in Miller, Indiana. She worked at various hospitals, including the Hines Veterans Hospital in Chicago and in the emergency room of Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas. She was employed by Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell as a clinical nursing instructor and took graduate courses at South Dakota State University.

Ruth was a member of the Lutheran church. She was a cub scout leader. She was involved in the League of Women Voters. She was interested in environmental issues and was active in politics. She traveled extensively and visited four continents. Among her interests were singing, reading, gardening, cooking, birdwatching, refurbishing furniture and genealogical research.

Survivors include her husband, George, of Sioux Falls; sons: David (wife, Nina Chee and children Kai and Bergen) of Great Falls, Virginia, Paul of Boulder, Colorado, Mark and Charles (wife, Lisa Linnell and daughter Esme) of St. Paul, Minnesota.