Ruth Merry, 93, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2020 at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center. A private family service will be held.

Ruth Marie Hines was born on a farm near Hawarden, IA on November 6, 1926, the daughter of Phil and Gladys (Ingalls) Hines. She moved to the Dell Rapids area at age 10. She attended country school and Dell Rapids High School. She graduated in 1945. She married James Merry on April 27, 1947at the First Baptist Church in Dell Rapids. The couple made their home on the farm until 1969 when they moved into town. Ruth went to work as a cook for the Dell Rapids School District, retiring in 1988. Jim passed away in 1999. In March of 2007 she moved to Friendship Village until becoming a resident of Dells Nursing and Rehab in 2012.

Ruth was a member of First Baptist Church, a Sunday school teacher, American Baptist Women where she held many state offices, the Legion Auxillary since 1958 and Jolly Workers Extension Club.

She is preceded in death by her parents,  her husband, her daughter, Janet, two brothers and one sister.

Ruth is survived by her son, Earl (Sandie) Merry of Cumberland, WI; her daughter, Joyce (Jim) Norby of Dell Rapids; her son-in-law, Richard Kock of Madison; her sister-in-law, Faye Hines of Morton, IL; her 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.